Whether you’re a fan of Barbie or not, most little girls go through a phase of owning or wanting to own one. In addition, Mattel claims that the doll (which is far more representative of the world’s women when it comes to both proportion and colour these days) allows girls to try on new roles through storytelling by showing them they can be anything.
Now, the toy manufacturer has started an unusual partnership between National Geographic and Mattel, collaborating to bring out a range of travel- and adventure-themed Barbie dolls representing jobs and industries in which women are underrepresented. The new Barbies will include a wildlife conservationist, astrophysicist, polar marine biologist, wildlife photojournalist, and entomologist.
Image supplied by Mattel.
In addition to the new product line, there will also be content (such as YouTube videos or, perhaps, a new Barbie movie) centered around exploration, science, conservation, and research. The accessories that come with the dolls, which include magnifying glasses, cameras and telescopes, have all been authenticated by a group of female National Geographic Explorers, as well as the National Geographic magazine editor-in-chief, Susan Goldberg.
Image supplied by Mattel.
‘Helping people understand the world is, and always has been, the core purpose of National Geographic,’ said Goldberg. ‘Through our partnership with Barbie, we are excited to reach kids in a new way, using the power of play to inspire our next generation of explorers, scientists and photographers.’
The dolls will go on sale in spring and will retail for between $14.99 to $29.99 (between about R210 and R430, although local pricing is yet to be confirmed).
