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Mattel introduced the toy market's first Down Syndrome Barbie. The toymaker reportedly worked with the National Down Syndrome Society to design the doll. It's part of the brand's 2023 Barbie Fashionistas Line. Barbie also carries a vitiligo doll, a prosthetic doll, a hairless doll, and a wheelchair-bound doll.
Lisa McKnight, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Barbie & Dolls, Mattel, said: "As the most diverse doll line on the market, Barbie plays an important role in a child's early experiences, and we are dedicated to doing our part to counter social stigma through play." The company also explained, "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."
The company's attempts to include diverse toys have been successful and well-received on social media. According to CNN in 2020, Mattel said in a statement that "a prototype of the vitiligo toy, which debuted on the Barbie Instagram page last year, became its most "liked" post ever."
According to the CDC, roughly 1 out of every 1,200 Americans have Down syndrome. About 95% of Down Syndrome cases are Trisomy 21. Translocation and Mosaic Down Syndrome are the less common forms of the disorder.
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