1/28/2016

The New Barbie Doll Bodies

While I think it's a good thing that Mattel recognizes the fact that women come in different shapes and sizes, I still think they have a long way to go if their intention is to represent a cross section of the population. These new dolls offer 4 body types, 7 skin tones, 18 eye colors and 18 hairstyles. The body types are the new additions. There will also be clothes that come in specific sizes to fit each doll.  Good luck with keeping that organized.


Mattel wants their Barbies to reflect "real-life girls and women." Does anyone who plays with these dolls wonder why they don't have vaginas? There's not the slightest indication that there might be something down there.

She looks pregnant.

Individual dressed dolls are $9.99 which is very reasonable IMO. Dressed dolls with two additional fashions will cost $19.99. Not all the variations are available; some are pre-order at

http://shop.mattel.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=45063936&utm_source=barbie-brand-site&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=dawn-launch


This is a step in the right direction...a very tiny step.

More good photos: http://www.barbie.com/en-us
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18 comments:

  1. Steve C.1/28/16, 1:29 PM

    Wondering if they'll slip the "vintage" body in the collection. She was curvy, too. Any diversity reflect our different cultures is a good sign.

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    1. Terri Gold1/28/16, 4:23 PM

      You're right, Steve. She was very curvy. I think all the new dolls are on the flat chested side as well.

      Delete
  2. Galacticatt1/28/16, 3:16 PM

    Wow, agreed they have a long way to go- but I'm amazed that they are making dolls that aren't size 0, very curious to see where this goes.

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    1. Terri Gold1/28/16, 4:24 PM

      One day there will be a gay boy to reflect the population as well.

      Delete
  3. RobinH1/28/16, 3:52 PM

    I hope this doesn't sound snarky, because I genuinely don't mean it to be. I just don't understand why Barbie needs a vagina. She doesn't have ear canals, tear ducts, or open pores, either. She's a fashion doll, not a gynecological model. I've never seen a non-satirical outfit in any era of fashion that was made to highlight and flatter a vagina. Further, as the mother of a daughter, I have other more accurate and reliable sources of information on vaginas than Mattel.

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  4. Unknown1/28/16, 6:23 PM

    HAHA!!! That last comment was funny. I like them. I think they are cute. That picture of Barbie on the cover is not very flattering nor were some of the outfits for the curvy doll. And maybe this will make everyone shutup about her. But I doubt that. I will probably get one of each just to have them. I mean Barbie is supposed to evolve with our times. So this is just part of her evolution. Can't stay the same forever. Although I wish she would. But if people have to base their self esteem on a doll then you have got some issues and you aren't teaching your daughter something. I wonder if Barbie will ever end up with an identity crisis.

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    1. Terri Gold1/28/16, 7:30 PM

      You are so right. I was thinking about my own childhood dolls and I don't remember ever wanting to look like them or thinking anything like that. They were just dolls. They were pretty. I liked them. That's all.

      Delete
    2. Heather1/28/16, 7:45 PM

      Thanks. I wanted Barbie's wardrobe. But I never wanted to be like her. She is one person and looks like an individual person. That is what Ruth Handler wanted her to look like and there is nothing wrong with her.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous1/28/16, 6:40 PM

    $19.99 or a few more should be the cost of a dressed doll in the Fashion Royalty lines as well. It's plastic after all!

    Annette

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    1. Terri Gold1/28/16, 7:31 PM

      I think there's more than the plastic involved. Compare the clothing on most FRs. Big difference. Don't you think?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous1/29/16, 10:23 PM

      I agree with you up to a point; for instance the Veronique "Toast of Paris" released in 2002 was 75$. Those were reasonable prices for beautiful dolls with elaborate outfits, and I think is incredible that a doll costs me more than a good 100% wool tuxedo!

      Annette

      Delete
  6. Carine1/28/16, 10:55 PM

    Mattel is again trying to they stay relevant. I don't want to be Politically Incorrect, but I am sick of these so call parents and feminist blaming a doll as the reason for girls/women lack of self-esteem.

    They know very well that it is society (both men and women) who
    created/hold those standard of beauty for women.

    Other than that these dolls need articulation.

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  7. monstercrafts1/29/16, 8:16 AM

    Well, I think this is interesting and it adds more diversity to the doll line. Also, I like some of the new hair styles and faces, they give more personality to the dolls. I'm happy that Mattel is trying to do something different and more challenging instead than just staying were they are, doing tons of playline mermaid/princess/fairy Barbie dolls.

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  8. Sarah1/29/16, 11:30 AM

    I love them-they're all beautiful, and it's a fun, inclusive line. While I agree it's a great marketing hook, I don't think it's strange to want to include more presentations and representations of what can be beautiful and welcoming to play with. I think it's also smart to position these to the beginner player-why not encourage the idea to kids everywhere that everyone (themselves, the people they see around them) can be accepted and welcomed into the pretendy play time, and by extension, larger society? It's a super-canny marketing ploy, and also a really wonderful hopeful message, tied up in a very affordable little package. I'm excited and delighted this has happened!

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  9. Anonymous1/29/16, 12:28 PM

    I am very hopeful that these will get young girls (and boys) interested in fashion dolls again.

    They are not supposed to be the most amazing quality dolls designed to appeal to grown-ups (many of whom locked their dolls up in cabinets or kept them in boxes to ahem 'protect their investment' thereby bypassing a generation of people who could be collecting and playing around with dolls but aren't) or perfect likeness of real children or women in miniature (in the past Mattel had a customize your own Barbie option available on their website, perhaps they could make all these body types available there for a new round of customized Barbie dolls), they are meant to be affordable fun toys to play with and redress.

    If they catch on, we may finally have someone to pass our doll collecting love and the dolls themselves we already own on to. I don't care so much about a financial return on my dolls as seeing them go to someone who is going to enjoy them rather than to a charity shop or a landfill. Mattel hasn't come up with a miracle here, but it's definitely an encouraging sign for people who love dolls.

    ElleDollFan

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  10. monstercrafts1/29/16, 3:55 PM

    I LOVE the idea of getting you own custom doll with one of this body types. And also, it would be crazy if they came articulated.

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  11. poppy1/30/16, 9:22 PM

    I adore this. It is a very lovely way to address lack of diversity in toys and specifically fashions dolls. I browsed the site and really began to take a liking to what I saw. And the price is perfect. I can only imagine how excited I would have been if these dolls had existed when I was a child. I WORSHIPPED my Barbies...I can see how for a young girl these dolls may be fun to have and a great addition to their doll cupboard.

    ReplyDelete

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