Two things can be true at the same time. When it comes to the inclusive nature of the Barbie doll line, there are moments where you can laugh and think to yourself, ‘Why does that exist?’ And then, the other part of you can take a step back and think, ‘There might be a little girl out there that appreciates the specificity of a certain Barbie, because she can relate to it.
Barbie, which is made by Mattel, is introducing two “first-ever” dolls to its line — a blind Barbie doll and a black Down syndrome doll. For context, there’s already a white Down syndrome doll.
So how do you make a “blind doll?”
According to the report:
In a partnership with the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), the newest doll will include accessories such as a white and red cane with an identifiable marshmallow tip, sunglasses, textured and vibrant fabric colors and there will be braille writing on the packaging to help blind and low-vision individuals open the box more easily, according to Barbie.
The doll was designed with an eye gaze "facing slightly up and out to accurately reflect the sometimes-distinct eye gaze of a blind individual."
So, while it might be funny to think how can an inanimate object be blind, the other side of the coin makes you think that a blind girl might appreciate the fact that all the features of the doll and the packaging cater to those little girls that might be afflicted with blindness.
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As for the black Down syndrome doll, Mattel partnered with the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS), and the doll will feature “clothes with meaningful symbols to represent Down syndrome awareness.
As said earlier, you might think it ridiculous to get so specific with a doll. Why not just make dolls for everyone without the identifiers attached to them - besides maybe a profession, of course? Then again, maybe a little girl with Down syndrome might really love a doll that was made with her in mind.
So, while you shouldn’t be made to feel like a jerk for laughing at such specific dolls, at further glance, these dolls might do some little girl a world of good.
Again, two things can be true at the same time.
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