Video: Autism groups criticize new Mattel autistic Barbie for "reinforcing stereotypes"
Mattel introduced its first autistic Barbie doll on Monday, aiming to expand representation for children with autism; however, the new doll has immediately sparked controversy in the Netherlands over potential stereotype reinforcement.
The doll includes features, developed with guidance from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) in the United States, that reflect experiences some autistic people may have. The autistic Barbie has articulated elbows and wrists to allow hand gestures and a slight sideward eye gaze and comes with a fidget spinner, noise-canceling headphones, and a tablet with symbol-based communication apps. Mattel said the design reflects how some autistic individuals manage sensory input, process information, and communicate.
In the Netherlands, the autism advocacy group PAS immediately expressed concern over the doll’s design. PAS chairman Guido Hogenbirk said the articulated limbs “confirm the stereotype we have been fighting against. Because of films like Rain Man, many believe autistic people flap their hands constantly, and this doll reinforces that image.”
He added that the doll’s sideward gaze, designed to reflect avoidance of eye contact, does not apply to all autistic people. “Some people with autism speak a lot and may find it difficult to stop, while others may consciously make eye contact because they know it is appreciated. Every person with autism is different.”
Tijs Hardenbol, spokesperson for the Dutch Association for Autism (NVA), also warned that the doll could create a one-dimensional view of autism, though he acknowledged it might serve as a starting point for discussions about the condition.
The doll is part of Mattel’s Fashionistas collection, which also features dolls with Down syndrome, vitiligo, a wheelchair, a prosthetic leg, and a hearing aid. Mattel plans to donate more than 1,000 autistic Barbies to pediatric hospitals, including Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and Rady Children’s Hospital in Orange County.
The doll’s development took more than 18 months in collaboration with ASAN. Executive Director Colin Killick said, “It is so important for young autistic people to see authentic, joyful representations of themselves, and that’s precisely what this doll is.”
