AD – This post is in collaboration with Very
Think you know Barbie? The new Barbie movie has opened our eyes to a brand new era of Barbie dolls – with a more inclusive and diverse range of dolls than ever before.
So…. unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last few weeks, you’ll have noticed that the world’s gone pretty Barbie mad. The soundtrack is now living rent-free inside your head, your nails are now painted a vivid shade of pink and suddenly, you’re wondering if you still have the ability to rollerblade. Thanks to Greta Gerwig, Margot Robbie and the epic ‘I am Kenough’ Ryan Gosling, we’ve been reminded that Barbie really can do anything, despite some of the challenges faced by women in the modern ‘real world.’
In conjunction with the movie, Very has a huge range of Barbie dolls, playsets, fashion and accessories in their online store, but it’s certainly worth remembering that Barbie is no longer just a blue eye, blonde-haired beauty. Since her release back in the late 1950’s, Barbie has evolved quite considerably – with a huge focus on representation and inclusivity. Barbie is also empowering – showing children that they can grow up to be anything – from a gymnast or hairdresser to a doctor, marine biologist or interior designer.
As such, you can now be more confident than ever that your child will be able to find a Barbie just like them. We’ve been exploring the range of diverse dolls in the Very Barbie collection and I’ll be honest – it’s incredibly refreshing.
Representation of disabilities
The power of representation is huge, especially for children with a disability, who may often struggle to see themselves positively reflected in children’s books and toys. Whilst the toy market is slowly catching up, it’s great to see that the Barbie range now includes a number of Barbies with disabilities, from wheelchair users to Barbies with cochlea implants, Downs Syndrome and prosthetic limbs.
Wearing a butterfly dress, ankle foot orthoses and a pink pendant with 3 arrows to represent the third 21st chromosome. the Barbie with Down’s syndrome was released in early 2023 in partnership with the National Down’s syndrome Society.
This Barbie Fashionista Doll with a wheelchair represents those with a physical disability and also comes in a variety of skin tones. With an authentically designed wheelchair, she has a small ramp that ensures she can get in and out of the Barbie Dream House with ease. With a clip in the centre to secure Barbie at the waist, she also has 22 articulation points across her body, allowing children to role-play a pushing motion or create a variety of poses as part of their scene.
Representing Skin Tones
Barbie now also comes in a wide range of ethnicities and skin tones – a huge 35 different skin tones in fact. Inclusivity during play is so important for young children, representing the diverse world that they are growing up in today, building a genuine appreciation for individual differences and celebrating what makes us unique. There are also huge benefits for enabling children to play with a range of dolls – not only those that look like themselves.
In the Barbie range at Very, you can pick up Barbies (and Kens) in a variety of different skin tones. each with unique features, hair styles, outfits and accessories.
From the braids and freckles on the Brooklyn Roberts Barbie doll (Neve’s new favourite) to the Barbie with natural black curls, we also love Kens’ modern bun hairstyle and small additions such as Barbie’s braces on the Barbie with a rainbow dress. Whilst some of these visual elements may seem like minor details, they’re all showcasing real looks of real people – and our children are taking it all in.
Neve has absolutely loved playing with a wide range of characters (in particular acting out the Hi Barbie scene on repeat). We love the wide range of hair styles and outfits as well as the subtle differences that bring out these characters unique styles and personalities.
The new era of Barbie is certainly something to embrace. We hope that this inclusive range of dolls will help children be more accepting, more inclusive and more body confident as they grow up.
You can shop the entire range of Barbie toys, including the inclusive dolls, this fantastic Barbie Campervan and Neve’s adorable strawberry playsuit in the Very Barbie Collection now.
This post is in collaboration with Very.
