Mattel has introduced its latest addition to the Barbie Fashionistas line: a doll with autism. The move is part of the company's efforts to promote diversity and inclusion, showcasing dolls that reflect different aspects of society.
The new doll was developed over 18 months in collaboration with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, a nonprofit organization that advocates for the rights and representation of individuals with autism. The goal was to create a Barbie that accurately represents some of the ways autistic people experience and process the world around them.
Autism is a complex condition that affects individuals in different ways, making it challenging to capture its essence in a doll. However, the development team aimed to show some of the common traits associated with autism, such as avoiding direct eye contact and using stimming gestures.
The new Barbie features articulating elbows and wrists, allowing her to mimic hand flapping and other gestures used by autistic individuals to process sensory information or express excitement. The doll's outfit is designed to be comfortable for those who are sensitive to fabric seams, with an A-line dress featuring short sleeves and a flowy skirt.
Each doll comes with accessories that cater to the needs of autistic individuals, such as a fidget spinner, noise-canceling headphones, and a tablet modeled after devices used by some people with autism. The addition of this doll also marks the introduction of facial features inspired by employees from India, further broadening representation within the Barbie Fashionistas line.
Mattel's efforts to promote diversity and inclusion are ongoing, with previous additions to the line including dolls representing individuals with Down syndrome, a blind Barbie, and those with vitiligo. The company aims to reflect the world kids see and the possibilities they imagine, as stated by Jamie Cygielman, Mattel's global head of dolls.
The new autistic Barbie is set to be available for purchase at Mattel's online shop and Target stores starting Monday, with a suggested retail price of $11.87.
The new doll was developed over 18 months in collaboration with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, a nonprofit organization that advocates for the rights and representation of individuals with autism. The goal was to create a Barbie that accurately represents some of the ways autistic people experience and process the world around them.
Autism is a complex condition that affects individuals in different ways, making it challenging to capture its essence in a doll. However, the development team aimed to show some of the common traits associated with autism, such as avoiding direct eye contact and using stimming gestures.
The new Barbie features articulating elbows and wrists, allowing her to mimic hand flapping and other gestures used by autistic individuals to process sensory information or express excitement. The doll's outfit is designed to be comfortable for those who are sensitive to fabric seams, with an A-line dress featuring short sleeves and a flowy skirt.
Each doll comes with accessories that cater to the needs of autistic individuals, such as a fidget spinner, noise-canceling headphones, and a tablet modeled after devices used by some people with autism. The addition of this doll also marks the introduction of facial features inspired by employees from India, further broadening representation within the Barbie Fashionistas line.
Mattel's efforts to promote diversity and inclusion are ongoing, with previous additions to the line including dolls representing individuals with Down syndrome, a blind Barbie, and those with vitiligo. The company aims to reflect the world kids see and the possibilities they imagine, as stated by Jamie Cygielman, Mattel's global head of dolls.
The new autistic Barbie is set to be available for purchase at Mattel's online shop and Target stores starting Monday, with a suggested retail price of $11.87.
I'm loving this move from Mattel! It's about time we start seeing more diverse representation in toys 
. The fact that they worked with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network to get it right is seriously impressive 
. Autism is a complex condition and it's awesome that they tried to capture some of its nuances without stereotyping or stigmatizing anything 
. I mean, who wouldn't want a doll that can flail her arms like we all do when we're stressed 
? The accessories they included are also super thoughtful 
. It's not just about selling more dolls, it's about creating toys that help kids understand and accept neurodiversity 
. Kudos to Mattel for taking a step in the right direction! 
and yeah, i can already imagine how cool it'd be to have a doll with articulating elbows and wrists, like, whoa! 
the fact that they worked with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network is pretty awesome too - that's some serious collaboration and effort. but at the same time... i do think it's kinda weird that we need a doll to represent autism. shouldn't we just have real-life people showing up in media instead? 
, while others... not so much 
. Still, I applaud Mattel's efforts to try, and it's great that they're collaborating with organizations like the Autistic Self Advocacy Network 
also can't wait to get my hands on that fidget spinner accessory 
The fact that Mattel worked with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network to get it right is everything! They didn't just slap on some features and call it a day, they actually took the time to understand what it's like to be autistic. I mean can you imagine having to create a doll that represents a complex condition that affects people in different ways? 
It's not as easy as just throwing on some colorful outfits and calling it inclusive.