The US toy company Mattel has for the first time a “Barbie doll with Down Syndrome” brought on the market.
The doll, with long light brown hair, a pink necklace and a colorful floral dress, is said to “enable more children to see themselves reflected in Barbieand allowing Barbie to reflect the world around her,” Mattel said Tuesday.
According to Mattel, the doll was created in close cooperation with associations of those affected and has, among other things, one slightly longer torso and wear on the lower legs and feet pink orthopedic aids.
Mattel partners with National Down Syndrome Society for new Barbie
one Product text on the Mattel website According to the new Barbie Fashionistas doll celebrate diversity and provide endless storytelling opportunities for children.
“With this inclusive line of dolls, children can see just how much fun it can be to express their personality through style.” The company has itself partnered with the National Down Syndrome Societyto create a doll “that honors this community,” according to Mattel.
Outfit of the new Barbie deliberately chosen
The product text states that the doll’s outfit was deliberately chosen and “provided with meaningful symbols”. That’s how the ones shown should be butterflies and the blue and yellow color palette act as a “symbol of Down syndrome”.
Barbie’s pink necklace is made of, according to Mattel three arrowswhich “represent the third 21st chromosome that people with Down syndrome have.” According to the product text, the arrows point outward “to symbolize getting up and moving forward.”
The pink ones ankle foot orthoses of the doll would match the outfit perfectly and support Barbie as she walks, “while her white Sneakers have a zipperso that children can easily put them on and take them off.
In people with Down syndrome – too called trisomy 21 – as a rule, chromosome 21 is present three times instead of twice. Down syndrome is associated with various degrees of disability.
In the past, Mattel has had, among other things Barbie dolls with wheelchairs, hearing aids or prosthetics brought on the market. (dpa, tsp)
