Black Barbie dolls draw some criticism
Source: Agencies |
October 10, 2009, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
MATTEL has launched a new line of black Barbie dolls with fuller lips, a wider nose and more pronounced cheek bones -- a far cry from Christie, Barbie's black friend who debuted in the 1960s and was essentially a white doll painted brown.
The "So In Style" line, which hit mass retailers last month, features Grace, Kara and Trichelle, each with her own style and interests and a little sister she mentors: Courtney, Janessa and Kianna. The dolls reflect varying skin tones -- light brown, chocolate, and caramel -- and Trichelle and Kianna have curlier hair.
Barbie designer Stacey McBride-Irby, who is black and has a 6-year-old daughter, said she wanted to create a line of dolls for young black girls that looked like them and were inspirational and career-minded. For example, Kara is interested in math and music.
"I want them to see themselves within these dolls, and let them know that black is beautiful," she said.
But some say the long straight hair does not address the beauty issues that many black girls struggle with. In the black community, long, straight hair is often considered more beautiful than short kinky hair.
McBride-Irby said she originally designed all the dolls with long hair because combing her Barbie's long hair when she was a girl was the "highlight of my play experience," she said. She was advised to create some dolls with curlier hair so she did.
There is a "So In Style" hairstyling set so girls can curl, straighten and style their dolls' hair over and over. It costs US$24.99, more than the US$19.99 a pair of dolls cost.
That is troubling to Sheri Parks, an associate professor of American Studies at the University of Maryland in College Park, because it actively involves girls in straightening hair. She worries that it reinforces the message that there is something wrong with natural hair.
"Black mothers who want their girls to love their natural hair have an uphill battle and these dolls could make it harder," Parks said.
The "So In Style" line, which hit mass retailers last month, features Grace, Kara and Trichelle, each with her own style and interests and a little sister she mentors: Courtney, Janessa and Kianna. The dolls reflect varying skin tones -- light brown, chocolate, and caramel -- and Trichelle and Kianna have curlier hair.
Barbie designer Stacey McBride-Irby, who is black and has a 6-year-old daughter, said she wanted to create a line of dolls for young black girls that looked like them and were inspirational and career-minded. For example, Kara is interested in math and music.
"I want them to see themselves within these dolls, and let them know that black is beautiful," she said.
But some say the long straight hair does not address the beauty issues that many black girls struggle with. In the black community, long, straight hair is often considered more beautiful than short kinky hair.
McBride-Irby said she originally designed all the dolls with long hair because combing her Barbie's long hair when she was a girl was the "highlight of my play experience," she said. She was advised to create some dolls with curlier hair so she did.
There is a "So In Style" hairstyling set so girls can curl, straighten and style their dolls' hair over and over. It costs US$24.99, more than the US$19.99 a pair of dolls cost.
That is troubling to Sheri Parks, an associate professor of American Studies at the University of Maryland in College Park, because it actively involves girls in straightening hair. She worries that it reinforces the message that there is something wrong with natural hair.
"Black mothers who want their girls to love their natural hair have an uphill battle and these dolls could make it harder," Parks said.
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