just announced the first autistic Barbie doll. “This doll invites more boys and girls to see themselves represented in,” the brand says in a statement. The company explains that the toy has been created in collaboration with the autism community to “represent the common ways in which autistic people can experience, process and communicate with the world.” More and more brands are aiming for inclusive toys that reflect disabilities or even different bodies, compared to older ones that only represent whites with normative bodies.
The company points out that the doll joins the collection Barbie Fashionistasfeaturing the most diverse range of skin tones, hair textures, body types, and various medical conditions and disabilities. The Autistic Barbie has been developed together with ASAN (Autistic Self Advocacy Network), an NGO dedicated to the rights of people with disabilities, run by and for autistic people, which defends their rights.
Jamie Cygielman, Global Head of Dolls at Mattel, explained in the statement: “Barbie has always strived to reflect the world children see and the possibilities they imagine, and we are proud to introduce our first autistic Barbie as part of that ongoing work.” In her opinion, the doll “contributes to expanding what we understand by inclusion in the toy aisles and beyond, because all children deserve to see themselves represented in Barbie.”
Created in the mold of a cold blonde mannequin – narrow hips, wasp waist, pointed chest, tiptoe feet – Barbie has represented the world for decades, but has also been accused of promoting the stereotypes of women promoted by patriarchy. For this reason, in recent years she has been modernizing herself with different jobs, from firefighter to astronaut or president. The culmination came with the film (in a version light and sweetened).
Meanwhile, more and more brands (such as Miniland, Mattel, Jugar i Jugar) are betting on inclusive toys that reflect different aspects of disability, and also that show dolls with different skin tones, hair varieties (afro, curly, straight) and non-normative bodies.
