Autistic Barbie

As a child, I was never a fan of Barbie, as it seemed like all the accessories for Barbie were only available in one colour... girlie pink.

For children who know they are autistic, enjoy playing with dolls, are accustomed to wearing noise cancelling headphones, etc, then I can understand the appeal of having an autistic Barbie that "looks like" them.

Mattel have to be seen to be ticking the right boxes. As a company, I feel it's impossible for them to represent every ASD child, and I think the autistic Barbie is what I consider to be an ASD stereotype.

I think it’s decent. Obviously there can’t be a universal representation of autism since it’s very different for everyone, and since the doll isn’t alive you can’t see its social communication skills and RRBs (but an AAC device and fidget spinner do show that in a way). If someone wanted it who doesn’t use ear defenders for example then they can just not use that part

It could also just open up conversation, like explain that the AAC is how some people communicate, then further that by explaining other ways people do (like sign language, sounds, gestures, idk). Same with the other parts.

Also the hands move which could make more stimming options I guess..

But either way there are going to be autistic people who do match the doll, so unless a portrayal is actually harmful then I don’t know why people try to say if things are bad/good rep (like in shows for ex, there just needs to be a range of rep not get rid of the stereotypical ones). The doll itself looks kinda meh so I would never buy it but I’m not a doll person so

Alien0n3arth said:

There was also Barbie with down syndrome

I saw Ellie Goldstein talking about Barbie with down syndrome on Strictly last year. She seemed happy about it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/65384581 

I get your point. Completely but I dont know how else they could do it as autism doesn't have a look.

I googled out of curiosity, I must admit I like her! Yes, it definitely has much to do with marketing, but If it makes kids happy, then I think it's OK. There was also Barbie with down syndrome,  also criticised,  but girls with down syndrome were happy (at least those shown in a video). Otherwise I don't have any strong opinion about it. 

I think it's probably a good thing but I can see why people would see it as a negative. I think there is an element of companies are damned if they do and damned if they don't at the moment. Autism isn't acknowledged - it isn't inclusive. Autism is acknowledged - they're criticised for the way it is done.

I don't know how else you could have an autistic representative toy without giving it things like ear defenders. But I get that's not representative of all autistic people and yes I see your point about marketing.

But I do think if something like a Barbie is going to educate children about others with autism and I guess "normalise" it in a way then I do think it's a good thing.

My sister had a Sindy doll and she later got Sindy’s wardrobe, bed and other furniture. One year I was given Sindy’s sister Patch, along with her pony which came with a bridle, saddle and fencing. I played a bit with the tack and fencing but it wasn’t very appealing. 

I wonder if they will produce a Barbie with dyslexia or ADHD? My mind boggles.

I don't have an opinion on the doll itself. However, some credit should be given to Mattel for consulting with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network while designing the thing. 

I think a autistic Barbie is morbid, especially if the only way a doll can be labelled as neurodivergent are the accessories that they come with. It's not the props that make someone autistic, they're coping mechanism to make it through a neurotypical world, they're not autism itself. 

If it's supposed to raise awareness of autism for neurotypicals, then you will need Mattel to manufacture enough dolls and enforce a marketing strategy that everywhere where Barbies are sold there will also be an autistic Barbie on display..... sounds realistic? NAH.

If it's meant for autistic people to identify themselves as autistic.... well that's coals to Newcastle. 

Besides, the props that Mattel uses to exemplify what an autistic Barbie would look like are stereotypical too. Not all on the spectrum use all of them, and some don't even use a single one (including myself).

I fear to say that the autistic Barbie will quickly fade into history as Allan did.

I had a Sindy doll and it was the only doll I liked, I never liked baby dolls or anything like that.

I think it would be good to have a community of dolls, all races, genders and none, religions, so as children could play and reflect the real world around them

I didn’t like dolls either. I always loved animals and spent much of my free time with them. 

The manufacturer of Barbie might have a chance of more sales if they introduced Barbie’s dogs and other animals,  although I don’t think that would be a big hit either as they wouldn’t be particularly plush.

I was never a Barbie person, maybe it's a good thing, especially as a show of support when it's going bad in the US at the moment.

My daughter was given the 'game designer' Barbie when she was small, she hated it like she hates all human dolls (she adores animals, and it was always plush animals that went in the baby carrier she was also given after ejecting the baby). I can see a lot of well meaning aunts/grandparents giving these as presents when the child might prefer something to do with their special interest, not  a doll of how the world see's them. But if a child likes dolls, they might be delighted to have something that sees them better.

Would be better if the clothes didn't look like a prison uniform though. 

TheCatWoman said:

I'm not sure what to think, on the one hand anything that makes people feel included and to have toys that "look like them" is a good thing, but on the other it seems a cynical marketing ploy.

I think it’s both things. 

They could do with launching an extended family of Barbie, Ken and others that would reflect some of the different ways that autism manifests in people. So that would meen having a Barbie who looks exactly like a non-autistic Barbie. 

Something which normalises it makes it less of an issue when people grow up.

Whether it is the best stereotype, I am not sure.