Barbie creates new role-model dolls for International Women's Day 2018

You may have often watched your little girl playing with her favourite Barbie doll.  But as your little love grows up, you may feel that she needs much more than a doll. She needs inspirational figures that she can look up to. So, with their Women’s Day Barbie series (2018), that’s exactly what America’s iconic toy maker, Mattel, plans to do.

Mattel Toys launches the Women’s Day Barbie series

Whether it is dressing up the dolls in fancy clothes, cooking yummylicious meals with them or talking to the doll after a tough day at school, your daughter has probably shared a lot with Barbie. It’s an inseparable bond.

Barbie launches two new lines on Women’s Day | Image: Screengrab from official Barbie website

So, to deepen this sharing, on the occasion of International Women’s Day 2018, the makers of Barbie have launched new women’s day Barbie dolls that are the perfect role-models for your girl or boy. The launch was announced on 7 March 2018. The Women’s Day Barbie dolls are a gesture of respect to historical and modern-day role models. 

Women’s Day Barbie dolls: Women who will be honoured by a Barbie model

The Women’s Day series includes Barbie dolls modelled on inspirational women who have left a mark in various fields. The two lines that are launched are “Inspiring Women” based on historical women and “SHERO” based on contemporary women.

Women’s Day Barbie: The ‘Inspiring Women’ line has three dolls as of now

Barbie creates a doll modelled on Frida Kahlo. | Image: Screengrab from official Barbie website

1. Amelia Earhart, Aviation Pioneer

2. Frida Kahlo, Fine Artist

3. Katherine Johnson, NASA Mathematician and Physician

Women’s Day Barbie: More on the way!

Barbie creates a doll modelled on Chloe Kim. | Image: Screengrab from official Barbie website

1. Chloe Kim, Olympian Snowboarding Champ

2. Bindi Irwin, Conservationist

3. Patty Jenkins, Director of the movie Wonder Woman

4. Nicola Adams Obe, Boxer

5. Yuan Yuan Tan, Prima Ballerina

6. Martyna Wojciechowska, Journalist

7. Ibtihaj Muhammad, Fencing Champion

8. Hui Ruoqui, Volleyball Champion

9. Ashley Graham, Model and Body Activist

10. Misty Copeland, Principal Ballerina

11. Helene Darroz, World-Renowned Chef

12. Sara Gama, Soccer Player

13. Gabby Douglas, Gymnastics Champion

14. Xiaotong Guan, Actress and Philanthropist 

15. Ava Duvernay, Film Director

16. Leila Piedayesh, Designer and Entrepreneur

Women’s Day Barbie: Breaking stereotypes

Barbie creates a doll modelled on Patty Jenkins. | Image: Screengrab from official Barbie website

Lisa McKnight, senior vice president and general manager for Mattel’s Barbie line said:

“Girls have always been able to play out different roles and careers with Barbie and we are thrilled to shine a light on real life role models to remind them that they can be anything. Barbie will be honouring its largest line up of role models timed to International Women’s Day because we know that you can’t be what you can’t see.”

In the past, Mattel faced criticism for promoting unattainable beauty goals for little girls. But over several years, Barbie was created in more diverse colours, body shapes and a variety of occupations. Here are a few groundbreaking launches in the Barbie line up to now. 

2015 – Introduction of 23 new dolls. They had variety of skin tones, hairstyles, outfits and flat feet.

2016 – For the first time, Barbie moved beyond its typical stick-thin frame with three new body types.

2017 – The first hijab-wearing Barbie.

And now, in 2018, Barbie has announced the launch of 17 Women’s Day Barbie dolls.

So, who do you think your daughter’s new favourite inspirational Women’s Day barbie doll will be? 

Source: CNN, Barbie

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Republished with permission from: theAsianParent Singapore