Barbie without hair, with vitiligo and prosthetics: Mattel to release inclusive dolls
Barbie manufacturer Mattel has announced the release of a new line of dolls, which is designed to reflect a "diverse view of beauty" and inclusivity. It is planned to release Barbie without hair, with a prosthesis and the skin disease vitiligo.
Vitiligo is a condition in which areas much lighter than the natural skin tone appear on random areas of the body and face. There is no melanin in these places, so they darken slightly in the sun and are prone to instant burns. In order to plausibly show what vitiligo looks like, the company turned to a dermatologist.
Alopecia is a partial or complete hair loss, which is usually observed in men, but it often happens in women.
Barbie's friend Ken was also updated this year. Mattel decided to replace Ken's short hairstyle with a version with long hair. In total, Ken dolls are available in four body types, 13 skin tones, nine eye colors and 22 hair colors.
Mattel has been releasing inclusive Barbie models for the last five years. According to the company, she seeks to get away from sexist stereotypes and unrealistic expectations of beauty once associated with a doll. Barbies of five body types, 22 skin tones, with 76 different hairstyles, 94 hair colors and 13 eye colors are now on sale.In the UK over the past year, one of the best-selling models has become a Barbie doll in a wheelchair.