Photo Courtesy: www.barbie.com
On January 28th, Barbie got her most dramatic body transformation in 57 years. Mattel—the company that manufactures the iconic doll— unveiled three new body types to promote a healthy and realistic view of body image: curvy, tall, and petite.
“These new dolls represent a line that is more reflective of the world girls see around them,” said Mattel Executive Evelyn Mazzocco in a statement adding, “The variety in body type, skin tones, and style allows girls to find a doll that speaks to them.” In addition to the varying body types, the new line of iconic dolls also boasts 7 skin tones, 22 eye colors, 24 hairstyles—including curly red hair, long blue hair, and an Afro—and feet designed for either heels or flats.
Barbie’s figure has been scrutinized for years, with critics arguing that the dolls set an unhealthy and unattainable body standard for young, impressionable girls by giving them an unrealistic idea of what the female body should look like. Research found that if Barbie was a real woman, she would stand at 6 feet tall, weigh 100 pounds, have a 36-inch bust, and an 18-inch waist—measurements that indicate that she would be physically incapable of lifting up her head or walking on her own two feet.
Photo Courtesy: www.barbie.com
The announcement comes amid plummeting Barbie doll sales, as the average consumer is becoming increasingly socially conscious about dismantling the idea of a singular definition of beauty.
Many took to Twitter to applaud the direction of the new toy. “Look, here’s why curvy Barbie matters to me” wrote @filamena, “I tell my daughters all bodies are normal, but their dolls don’t back me up.” @Phoebififi_said, “The new Barbies are beautiful. I might be turning 18, but I’m definitely buying a curvy Barbie.” Meanwhile, others lightheartedly joked that all toys should be made more realistic. “When will Barbie agree to make a dadbod Ken? Put a stop to impossible male body standards,” demanded @tmbuchanan2, in reference to Barbie’s muscular, six-pack wielding male counterpart.
While the company has taken strides to become more inclusive over the past few years—first it introduced dolls that could wear flats and then it introduced an Ava DuVernay doll—creating new body types is Mattel’s biggest leap towards change since 1959. Although the new line of dolls only skims the surface when it comes to diversity, this is a long overdue start for Mattel.
Here’s to a new generation of children who will grow up embracing that real beauty comes in all different shapes and sizes, and also from within.
The new Barbies are available online at www.barbie.com, and will be sold alongside the original model in retail stores this spring.
