Most of us can look back and remember playing with Barbie dolls. They can remind us of a time when things were simpler and our only worry in the world was what outfit our doll would wear today. However, Barbie’s look is now changing, making a statement bigger than her really expensive Dream House.
Mattel has announced a new line of Barbie dolls with different hair and eye colors, heights, body shapes and skin tones. Especially with recent critique of the original Barbie’s unrealistic body proportions, this is a good move for the company. But this is not just a good marketing plan, but an empowering message to children who may be seeing the dolls they play with actually look like them for the first time.
The line, called the “Fashionistas,” is set to be released in the spring of 2016. It is definitely a huge step in the right direction.
It is bringing a new face to the name “Barbie,” which has been a household name since her creation. Personally, I think it is a really great thing, and seeing more representations of the real world in playtime will help children who play with these new Barbie dolls gain confidence in themselves and how they look. Maybe it’s time to dig our old Barbie collections out of whatever deserted corner of our parents’ attic they’re in and add to it. She’s headed for a bright future, after all.