Wheelchair for Barbie

[maywong]

Mattel is coming out with a new wheelchair for Barbie.

https://www.teenvogue.com/story/barbie- ... Blcy_uN_CQ

[davidd]

I find it frustrating that this article, like almost every article about Barbie dolls, starts off with something along the lines of, "While she's still white and blonde." In later paragraphs, we again read that "the dolls may have contributed to unrealistic body standards for young girls."

Oh, and, it was a terrible thing that "It also took the brand until 1969 to launch its first black Barbie." And now, even with curvy dolls and dolls with every skin tone under the sun, this article claims there is "backlash" against Barbie for not offering a greater diversity in hair textures.

Give me a freakin' break.

Oh, and, apparently "Fat Barbie" isn't fat enough, because the "curvy" line "still feature(s) a doll with some slim features, and a more robust torso and hip area."

The people who write these articles must really have some serious low self-esteem issues to get so hung up on what they perceive as "negatives" about Barbie. Never a mention about how many billions of Barbies have been sold. Never a mention of the millions or billions of children who played with Barbie over the years. No discussion of Barbie and her extended family inspiring and stimulating imagination and creativity.

Barbie was an astronaut in 1965, nearly 20 years before an American woman went in to space (Russia sent a female cosmonaut into space in 1963, but did not send another until 1982). Barbie has been an explorer and a scientist and a doctor and a veterinarian and... you guys know the drill. She's done a lot more stuff than GI Joe, Poor ol' Joe isn't even around anymore. His company, Hasbro, focuses almost exclusively on Disney Princesses today. Where's the "hate" for Disney Princesses? No, the princesses get a pass, while Barbie gets the smack.

But ya know what? Barbie keeps on smiling. She's smiling from her wheelchair. She's smiling with her prosthetic limbs. She's smiling from space, from the jungle, from the operating room, and from the Dream House. Black, white, Asian, Hindu, or Malibu tan, Barbie adapts, Barbie smiles, and Barbie continues to inspire generation after generation of kids.

I think the reporters are jealous because this Barbie reporter doll set is inaccurate. You know that in real life the roles would be reversed.

(And now I want that set, because camera operator Barbie is what Barbie is supposed to look like! )

[maywong]

I totally agree with you.

[davidd]

I totally agree with you.

Thank you. I started to worry that maybe I had co-opted your topic for a personal rant. I think it's pretty cool that Mattel is updating the Barbie wheelchair and planning to release alter-abled versions.

What I want to know is, why can't an article about Barbie focus on the positives, with something like, "Continuing with their efforts to bring diversity and inclusivity to the Barbie line-up, Mattel announces the addition of ... ... .... This follows the release of a new line of diverse body styles, including 'curvy' and 'petite,' across an expanding palette of skin tones and racial and cultural designs. For decades, Mattel has used the Barbie platform to expose children to a wide range of careers and activities...."

But no, it seems that every article about Barbie dolls ends up being some kind of "hit piece."

It's sad, really. Personally... and this is coming from a guy's perspective, and I wish I could say this about GI Joe or Erector sets or Lionel trains or Hot Wheels cars... I believe that the Barbie doll has been one of the most positively influential toys in history, and has probably brought more joy into the lives of more children than any other line of toys. With these new releases, Mattel is taking steps to allow even more children to bond with this very special doll and unique cultural icon.

[DollyKim]

I think I might have to read that Never Satisfied book about the history of dieting for my next book. Davidd you might want to look in to the history of western culture and shaming women about their appearances etc, do you have halitosis? Is that why nobody likes you? Lysol was used for what?

I am looking forward to differently abled Barbies and mobility products for them. I was happy to finally get a petite Barbie with my haircut.

I want to ask everyone who writes a disparaging article about Barbie and other dolls if they ever played dolls? Did they take their dolls to Imagination Land? Did your dolls stay pretty sitting on a shelf or did you love the hair off of them?

And it was decided Barbie has so many different jobs because she's an assassin :p

[davidd]

And it was decided Barbie has so many different jobs because she's an assassin :p

Of course! In fact, there was a video game about that:

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/1 ... nt-barbie/

And to my surprise, the author of the article credits Barbie for helping her become a professional writer, stating: "Barbie and her massive array of careers is certainly someone to thank for me being able to write on this site today."

(Oh, and, my "go to" book on the influence of advertising on our lives and our self-perceptions is Vance Packard's The Hidden Persuaders. Although written in the 1950s, the topics and methods explored are just as relevant today.)

[werepuppy]

Some pictures have been coming out of the new wheelchair and it seems to feature a waist clip to ensure the doll stays put. On one hand, this does seem like a good idea, especially for those of us who partake in doll photography. In the other it does mean that the types of Barbie that will fit into the wheelchair are limited to one body type.

(Also, I think they did make a wheelchair before and didn't need a cool for the doll to stay in it.)

She'll also be coming with a ramp for access.

[maywong]

This was the old Becky wheelchair. (scroll down)
https://www.designboom.com/design/disab ... 2-12-2019/

[Tealove]

I was never really into Barbie. I had them because relatives got them for my sister and I. And I played with them with my sister all the time. But I never got into the “Barbie World” advertised on TV and I never asked for one. If I had body issues with her, it was that she was made of unrelenting plastic and it never changed shape like icky flesh does. Yea, it bothered me I wasn’t made of plastic. But I got over that. I just wonder if it’s ever going to be possible to create the perfect doll that children won’t compare themselves to. It seems unlikely.

My sister was tremendously inspired by Day-to-Night Barbie. She wanted a real calculator shortly after getting that doll. And now she is a financial expert.

I do like that Barbie is so much more diverse! And I enjoy her web series.

[DollyKim]

I hear you on the lack of joints. It's okay you went through a wanting to be plastic phase, normal growing up stuff. Kids only think they have to compare themselves to a doll if they're taught and reinforced to. Not enough people know humans are hard wired to accept artistic representations of human forms that exaggerate parts we like such as big eyes and long legs without it being in Uncanny Valley. Most of us feel put off by super realistic forms.

I'm glad for your sister, she's the kind of story people should be hearing about.