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27-04-2023
MATTEL: Mattel Tuesday welcomed it’s first-ever Barbie doll representing a person with Down’s syndrome aimed at pushing for its diversity mission and countering stigma around physical disabilities.
The American multinational toy manufacturing company has crafted the doll as part of its Barbie Fashionistas line which introduces children to a range of diverse representations of beauty, media reported.
Previously, the company launched a Barbie with a prosthetic leg, one using a wheelchair, another with hearing aids, and one with vitiligo, a condition in which patches on one’s skin lose pigment.
To produce the latest doll in its collection and ensure appropriate representation of a person with Down’s syndrome, the company worked with the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) to form its features, shape, clothing, packaging and accessory.
Down’s syndrome is a genetic condition which affects the individual’s cognitive ability, resulting in mild to severe learning disabilities as well as distinctive characteristics of the face.
“Our goal is to enable all children to see themselves in Barbie, while also encouraging children to play with dolls who don’t look like themselves,” said Lisa McKnight, Mattel’s executive vice president and global head of barbie & dolls.
She added that the company’s goal is to “counter social stigma through play” through its dolls.
“Doll play outside of a child’s own lived experience can teach understanding and build a greater sense of empathy…. We are proud to introduce a Barbie doll with Down syndrome to better reflect the world around us and further our commitment to celebrating inclusion through play,” McKnight said.
Meanwhile, NDSS president and CEO Kandi Pickard said that Mattel’s latest Barbie is a “huge step forward for inclusion and a moment that we are celebrating.”
“This means so much for our community, who for the first time, can play with a Barbie doll that looks like them. This Barbie serves as a reminder that we should never underestimate the power of representation,” said in a statement. (Int’l News Desk)
