In 2015, Mattel released its first batch of dolls for its Sheroes line, honoring renowned women of diverse racial and ethnic identities and occupations from around the world.
Since then, Mattel has made Barbie dolls with skin tones ranging from porcelain to ebony, including ethnically ambiguous skin tones that could be considered Hispanic, Middle Eastern or Native American. Everyone can see themselves in Barbie.”Īlthough Barbie Dolls of the World – which represent cultures from such countries as Mexico, China and Scotland – have been available to serious collectors since the late 1950s, the first Barbie of color was not offered on the mass market until 1980. “America is a melting pot,” Redfeather said, “so she represents all of the different cultures and now all of the different sizes and complexions. Several said the growing diversity of skin tones added to Barbie’s allure. These were fans, and none mentioned controversy over whether Barbie is a feminist or hurts or helps girls’ self-esteem of girls. “We’re not getting rid of her, but we’re trying to be as diverse as possible to have a doll that everyone can identify with.”Ĭollectors – mainly adults and mainly women – from countries as far away as Australia, Italy, Japan and Canada gathered at the convention to celebrate their love of Barbie and their belief that the iconic doll has remained a symbol of beauty and femininity for nearly 60 years. “Globally, our best-selling dolls are original white, blonde-hair, blue-eyed dolls,” Kelly Powers, a Mattel spokeswoman, said at the convention. In an age of heightened multiculturalism and such movements as #MeToo, Mattel is among the companies – from cosmetic brands to fashion lines – working to reflect an ever-changing audience and customer base of different shapes, sizes, complexions and careers. “I wanted to represent Native American fashion in Barbie.” “Given that this is Arizona, I wanted to represent Arizona in a Native American way,” Redfeather said as he prepared his booth at the National Barbie Doll Collectors Convention in mid-July. Pabboo Redfeather, an artist and designer, reimagined a Barbie distinguished from the thousands of Barbie dolls crafted in Mattel factories.Ī smiling Redfeather, who has collected 9,000 Barbies, said he fashioned the doll to resemble the women of his mother’s tribe, the Blackfeet Nation. PHOENIX – As visitors stroll through the aisles of Barbie dolls arrayed at a national collectors’ convention in Phoenix, one doll among hundreds stands apart.Ī tan-complexioned Barbie with long, braided black hair and traditional Native American dress is perched proudly on a pedestal hand-painted to resemble grass. ‘Everyone can see themselves in Barbie’: Iconic doll better reflects global diversity