Barbie for president!
Toymaker Mattel has unveiled a new collection of politically active Barbie dolls, including a black woman running for president and her all-female campaign team, to inspire girls to seek leadership positions. Rounding out the four-part set is a campaign manager, fundraiser, and voter, the last of which seemed to offend Donald Trump Jr., who tried to prank the doll on Twitter.
“‘Voter’ Barbie must be a Democrat because she already has a ‘I Voted’ sticker and yet has another ballot in hand,” she tweeted Wednesday, appealing to her father’s unfounded claims about widespread election fraud.
Barbie was not amused.
“Barbie is not, and never has been, affiliated with a political party,” a Mattel representative told the Los Angeles Times in a statement Thursday. “Barbie has always encouraged girls to stand up for what they believe in and shows them that they can be anything.
“This set of dolls highlights a variety of leadership roles to spark their interest in shaping the future and raising their voices, from the podium to the polls. This set also provides a tool to allow families to have conversations about important events and cultural moments through play. “
On mail-in ballots, there is a small sticker inside, which you take off and put on your coat while you leave the ballot.
You should know, you vote by mail …– Sanders (@ ruralgirl22) July 29, 2020
The 2020 Campaign Team collection marks Barbie’s seventh presidential run and is part of a collaboration between Barbie and She should Run, a non-partisan, non-profit organization that organizes programs and events that encourage women to run for office.
“Since 1959, Barbie has championed girls and encouraged them to be leaders, whether in the classroom, the community, or one day, across the country,” said Lisa McKnight, senior vice president and global head of Barbie and Dolls at Mattel, in a statement on Monday.
With less than a third of the elected leaders in the US being women, and black women being even less represented in these positions, we designed the Barbie Campaign Team with a diverse set of dolls to show all the girls they can raise their voices. Our goal is to remove barriers to leadership by giving girls the tools to imagine and play their future roles. “
She Should Run is also a beneficiary of the Barbie Dream Gap project, which has raised funds for her Help Her Lead course, an online class for teachers, family and parents who want to inspire and prepare girls to make their dreams come true.
“Understanding the role we play in empowering our daughters is the first step: We have to have healthy conversations at home and encourage curiosity. By enthusing them today, we give them the confidence to speak up and run for office tomorrow, “said Erin Loos Cutraro, founder and CEO of She should Run, in a statement.
The full Barbie campaign kit is on sale for $ 39.99 at major retailers. Additional resources are also available on the Barbie website, including printable game tickets and election-related activities.
