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Mattel worked with the National Down Syndrome Society to design a new Barbie doll with Down syndrome. Barbie’s physical features, outfit and accessories are meant to reflect what living with the condition is like.
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The doll, which the company says is the first Barbie with Down syndrome, wears pink ankle foot orthoses to support her feet and ankles, and dons several other accessories that promote Down syndrome awareness or are commonly used by people with the disorder.
The new doll is part of Barbie’s 2023 Fashionista line, which the company describes as an “inclusive range” of dolls “designed to reflect the world kids see today.”
Previous dolls in Barbie’s Fashionista lineup have included a doll with hearing aids, dolls who come with a wheelchair and ramp and a Barbie and Ken who have a skin condition called vitiligo.
“Our goal is to enable all children to see themselves in Barbie, while also encouraging children to play with dolls who do not look like themselves,” said Lisa McKnight, a Mattel executive vice president, in a press release.
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New Barbie’s accessories, wardrobe
Besides the pink braces she wears on her feet, Barbie represents these aspects Down syndrome:
- Her pink pendant necklace. Its three arrows represent how people with Down syndrome has three pairs of their 21st chromosome, the company says on its website.
- The butterflies on her dress. The Down syndrome community has taken up the butterfly as their symbol.
- Blue and yellow dress design. These colors also stand for Down syndrome awareness.
- Face and eye shape. Barbie has eyes that are almond-shaped, which is common among people born with Down syndrome, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Barbie has a shorter frame and a longer torso, according to a Mattel press release.
- Barbie’s face “features a rounder shape, smaller ears, and a flat nasal bridge,” the press release says.
- “The doll’s palms even include a single line, a characteristic often associated with those with Down syndrome,” the press release reads.
What is Down syndrome?
Down syndrome is a condition in which a person is born with an extra chromosome, the X-shaped packages that hold our genes.
Babies with Down syndrome have an extra copy of one of these chromosomes, chromosome 21.
This extra copy changes how the baby’s body and brain develop, which can cause both mental and physical challenges for the baby, according to the CDC.
Each year, about 6,000 babies born in the United States have Down syndrome. That means Down syndrome occurs in about 1 in every 700 babies, the CDC says.
Even though people with Down syndrome “might act and look similar,” each person has different abilities, the CDC says on its website.
“This means so much for our community, who for the first time, can play with a Barbie doll that looks like them,” said Kandi Pickard, National Down Syndrome Society President and CEO. “This Barbie serves as a reminder that we should never underestimate the power of representation. It is a huge step forward for inclusion and a moment that we are celebrating.”
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