Changing Barbie
Barbie dolls are one of the most well-known toys on earth but now, after more than 50 years, Barbie is changing. For the first time, the dolls will now come in different body types, hair styles and skin tones. But why has its maker decided to change it after so many years? Here's Matt.
MATT HOLBROOK, REPORTER: She's been a doctor, a jet pilot, and even the President of the United States. Over the years Barbie's done some incredible things and been through some big changes. But this could be her biggest yet.
This is the new Barbie. She now comes in different body types, including tall, curvy, and petite, and seven different skin tones, along with different eye colours and hairstyles.
ADVERTISEMENT: This is radical because we're saying that there isn't this narrow standard of what a beautiful body looks like.
But the changes haven't come out of nowhere. For a long time, people have complained that toy dolls like Barbie are unrealistic and say they can put pressure on girls to look a certain way. And that can be really unhealthy, or even impossible.
See, if Barbie were a real person, she'd look something like this. Proportions that look nothing like a real woman. In fact, doctors say her feet and legs are so thin she wouldn't be able to walk. And her head is so large she wouldn't be able to hold it up! Barbie's not the only toy to be given similar treatment. Bratz dolls and action figures like GI Joe and Star Wars have all been criticised for creating unrealistic expectations of what we should all look like.
Mattel says it's made changes to Barbie to help girls feel good about who they are. And while lots of people support the move, not everyone agrees with it. Some say kids know the difference between toys and real life. And that dolls and toys don't have to represent real people. Others don't like that the new body shapes have been labelled, and some say the Ken doll could use a more realistic make over as well.
But what do you think? Do toys need to be more realistic?
GIRL: I think it's good that they're changing it, because the kids might be inspired to be like them and they'll try and be them and they won't realise it's unhealthy for them.
BOY: I think they should sort of still change the look of the action figure so they can relate to little boys like the Barbies of course. So that they can play with it and be comfortable not feeling isolated that nothing here looks like me.
GIRL: If it's a Barbie doll or an action figure I think they should but if it's a young children's toy like a toddler and it's supposed to be a fantasy I think it should stay the same.
BOY: Let's say a barbie it's actually meant to be a thing you look up to, it's meant to be a human, its meant to be actually be a role model but the problem is it's actually way too thin, its actually unhealthy.
BOY: Definitely some kids will think that's how I want to be and that's how I should be, and then they won't be happy when they're not like that. Kids need to understand that not everyone is the same and you need to be unique for who you are.
- Matthew Holbrook | Reporter
- Barbie expands collection to include 'tall, curvy and petite' dolls: ABC News | weblink
- Barbie doll to get new body shapes and skin tones: CBBC Newsround | weblink
- Toy Story: Behind the News | history
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