How I suddenly own 100 Barbies
For ten years, I’ve known the world deserved to see limb differences represented in dolls. Jordan spoke up and reminded me that a “matching doll” isn’t matching just because it has the same outfit. Since then, we couldn’t have imagined that discussion, when she was four-years-old, would lead to a few boxes full of Barbie dolls arriving at our house years later.
Image description: Large boxes sit near windows and are on top of a wooden floor.
After supporting Jordan’s view of changing the doll industry, we had a chance to consult Mattel designers on how to create a Barbie that uses a prosthetic leg. The first version came out in Summer 2019 and a second one with a gold leg was released in 2020.
It’s the little things, but I’m proud to have played a role in the language used to describe the dolls. You can read them on websites that sell the dolls: “Barbie doll has a limb difference and wears a prosthetic leg - kids can easily take it on and off to add a unique element to storytelling,.”
Image description: Two dolls with white backgrounds and are framed by a thin black line around each of them. The first Barbie doll on the left is white, wearing a short blue dress. She has long brown hair with a top piece up in a pony tail. She’s wearing large silver hoop earrings. She is wearing white shoes. Her left leg is the shape of a grey prosthetic. The second Barbie doll on the right is Black, wearing a short blue dress that is off her right shoulder. She’s wearing two large tubular twists in her hair and a long silver and sparkly bracelet on her right arm. She’s wearing white shoes. Her left leg is the shape of a gold prosthetic.
Along with speaking at a number of different events across the country, Mattel honored Jordan for her work with a one-of-a-kind Barbie doll that looks just like her. We also received 100 prosthetic leg dolls to share during events we held for Born Just Right - our organization or for the book we released last year.
Image description: Jordan stands and smiles with pride while holding her book. Next to her stands a friend who is smiling and holding a Barbie box that holds the doll that Jordan and Jen helped consult on.
We are now down to about 25 of the original dolls and I have one of the new ones on order to arrive at our house soon. This dolls is a huge step forward and I’m so proud to have played a role in the process.