Rantburg

Today's Front Page   View All of Sat 05/24/2025 View Fri 05/23/2025 View Thu 05/22/2025 View Wed 05/21/2025 View Tue 05/20/2025 View Mon 05/19/2025 View Sun 05/18/2025
2023-04-26 -Short Attention Span Theater-
Barbie's latest doll represents people with Down's syndrome
Coming soon: Barbie Lite!
[GEO.TV] Mattel Tuesday welcomed its first-ever Barbie doll representing a person with Down's syndrome aimed at pushing for its diversity
We are assured it's our strength. If you actually believe that, you may consider an IQ test to see if you've been Fettermanned
 mission and countering stigma around physical disabilities.

The American multinational toy manufacturing company has crafted the doll as part of its Barbie Fashionistas line which introduces children to a range of diverse representations of beauty, CNN
...formerly the Cable News Network, now who know what it might stand for...
 reported.

Previously, the company launched a Barbie with a prosthetic leg, one using a wheelchair, another with hearing aids, and one with vitiligo — a condition in which patches on one's skin lose pigment.

To produce the latest doll in its collection and ensure appropriate representation of a person with Down's syndrome, the company worked with the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) to form its features, shape, clothing, packaging and accessory.

Down's syndrome is a genetic condition which affects the individual's cognitive ability, resulting in mild to severe learning disabilities as well as distinctive characteristics of the face.

"Our goal is to enable all children to see themselves in Barbie, while also encouraging children to play with dolls who do not look like themselves," said Lisa McKnight, Mattel’s executive vice president and global head of barbie & dolls.

She added that the company's goal is to "counter social stigma through play" through its dolls.
Posted by Fred 2023-04-26 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11130 views ]  Top

#1 ...Hmmm.

On the one hand...two cheers for Mattel. Not sure how many DS girls will be buying a Barbie that looks like them, but okay. However, that puts us on...

The other hand - it is my understanding (and I will cheerfully admit to error) that the overall number of DS births are steadily decreasing. There are much better and constantly improving pre-natal tests that are spotting it so the parents can terminate if they so wish or simply not try to conceive in the first place. (Not debating the decisions, just pointing out that they are options )


Which means, if one thinks about it, Mattel is marketing an $11.00 toy to a steadily shrinking customer base. Not sure what kind of marketing research is being done here, but there it is.

Mike
Posted by MikeKozlowski 2023-04-26 08:29||   2023-04-26 08:29|| Front Page Top

#2 /\ Mattel's M16. Short-term financial gain outweighs long-term impacts ?
Posted by Besoeker 2023-04-26 08:39||   2023-04-26 08:39|| Front Page Top

#3 Will we see Flesh-eating Bacteria Barbie, because Inclusion? There is a DIE Barbie joke in there but I shall refrain.

I wonder what it costs Mattel to turn out a non-standard Barbie - the design, tooling, molds, packaging, production line changeover, etc. I'm guessing you need to sell a bunch to break even.
Posted by SteveS 2023-04-26 09:38||   2023-04-26 09:38|| Front Page Top

#4 Doesn't cost them anything if the distributors/retailers are 'required' to carry it.

The only thing to do is if retailers just quit carrying the Barbie line. The Big Boys pick up the tab because they are Invincible!

Then customers pick up the tab because the write off of 10 cubic yards of wrote-off Barbie product thrown in the trash is worked into your price tag, and taxes.
Posted by swksvolFF 2023-04-26 10:35||   2023-04-26 10:35|| Front Page Top

#5 
Posted by Frank G 2023-04-26 10:41||   2023-04-26 10:41|| Front Page Top

#6 There are some misconceptions in this thread. If you will allow me?

1) This product isn't really for girls like my daughter with Down syndrome. She loves Barbie dolls and likes the varients just fine. But she doesn't see herself as being in a distinct minority group. (Few of them do.)

2) This doll will be part of a product line that most parents get on a subscription basis. We have the subscription, and she gets excited every time a doll comes in.

3) The most common form of DS isn't detectable pre-conception by a genetics test. It is detectable post-conception by a blood test, and abortions are common; though possibly less so than they were 20 years ago in the United States. We are not sure, but the rates mave have dropped from 92% when detected to as low as 82%. But that of course is subject to change.

4) A DS barbie doll is fine -but is most likely for collectors IMO.
Posted by Secret Master  2023-04-26 11:25||   2023-04-26 11:25|| Front Page Top

#7 Ref #5: Frank you've just flooded hundreds of urostomy bags with that graphic.
Posted by Besoeker 2023-04-26 11:36||   2023-04-26 11:36|| Front Page Top

#8 I would call the picture Great Value Barbie.
Posted by Super Hose 2023-04-26 12:41||   2023-04-26 12:41|| Front Page Top

#9 I had no idea about any of that, Secret Master. Thank you for explaining.
Posted by trailing wife 2023-04-26 17:30||   2023-04-26 17:30|| Front Page Top

#10 Mattel’s press release on the subject. Definitely for collectors, continuing a trend of Barbies with various skin colours, body types, and handicaps.
Posted by trailing wife 2023-04-26 21:36||   2023-04-26 21:36|| Front Page Top

02:32 Fairbanks
00:43 Skidmark
00:24 Skidmark
00:19 EMS Artifact
00:06 Rambler
00:03 Rambler









Paypal:
Google
Search WWW Search rantburg.com