Additional Coverage:
- Mattel adds an autistic Barbie to doll line devoted to showcasing diversity and inclusion (nbcnews.com)
Mattel Unveils New Autistic Barbie, Expanding Diversity in Fashionista Line
Mattel Inc. has introduced its latest addition to the Barbie Fashionistas line: an autistic Barbie doll. This new doll joins a growing collection designed to celebrate diversity and promote inclusivity, which already features Barbies with Down syndrome, a blind Barbie, and dolls with vitiligo, among others.
The development of the autistic Barbie was a collaborative effort, spanning over 18 months, between Mattel and the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN). ASAN, a non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for the rights and improved media representation of autistic individuals, worked closely with Mattel to ensure the doll accurately reflects some of the ways autistic people experience and process the world.
Noor Pervez, ASAN’s community engagement manager, who played a key role in the doll’s prototype development, acknowledged the challenge of representing autism, given its wide spectrum of behaviors and varying degrees of visibility. “Like many disabilities, ‘autism doesn’t look any one way,’” Pervez stated, “But we can try and show some of the ways that autism expresses itself.”
Several thoughtful details were incorporated into the doll’s design to achieve this representation. The doll’s eyes are subtly shifted to the side, a detail inspired by how some autistic individuals may avoid direct eye contact. Articulated elbows and wrists allow for poses that reflect stimming or hand flapping, gestures some autistic people use to process sensory information or express excitement.
The design team also considered clothing choices, debating between tight and loose-fitting outfits. Ultimately, they opted for an A-line dress with short sleeves and a flowing skirt, minimizing fabric-to-skin contact, as some autistic individuals are sensitive to fabric textures. The doll also wears flat shoes for enhanced stability and ease of movement.
Each autistic Barbie comes with accessories designed to resonate with the experiences of some autistic individuals, including a pink finger clip fidget spinner, noise-canceling headphones, and a pink tablet, reminiscent of devices used for communication by some who struggle with verbal speech.
Beyond representing autism, the doll’s facial features were inspired by Mattel employees in India and mood boards reflecting women with Indian backgrounds. Pervez emphasized the importance of this representation for an often-underrepresented segment of the autistic community.
The autistic Barbie continues Mattel’s commitment to diversity within its Fashionistas line. Previous additions include a doll with Down syndrome in 2023, a Barbie representing Type 1 diabetes last summer, and dolls with prosthetic legs, hearing aids, as well as various body types, hair types, and skin tones.
Jamie Cygielman, Mattel’s global head of dolls, affirmed the company’s mission, stating, “Barbie has always strived to reflect the world kids see and the possibilities they imagine, and we’re proud to introduce our first autistic Barbie as part of that ongoing work.”
The new autistic Barbie doll is available at Mattel’s online shop and Target stores for a suggested retail price of $11.87. Walmart stores are expected to carry the doll starting in March.
According to a report last year from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the estimated prevalence of autism among 8-year-old children in the U.S. was 1 in 31. The CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network also noted that Black, Hispanic, Asian, and Pacific Islander children in the U.S. were more likely than white children to receive an autism diagnosis, and the prevalence was more than three times higher among boys than girls.