Mattel Honors Female Role Models With Barbie Dolls To Get More Girls Into STEM
Inspiring women come in all shapes and forms, but growing up, girls have often pictured them in one image: with cascading blonde locks, a pearly smile, and an hourglass silhouette. Thankfully, over the years, the Barbie doll has evolved to represent a wider community, giving every young girl a new role model to look up to.
For International Women’s Day this year, Mattel is celebrating seven real female trailblazers who have excelled phenomenally—sometimes astronomically—in the spaces of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) with one-off dolls crafted in their likenesses. With a Barbie version for each individual, the hope is to show young minds that brilliance appears in all kinds of ways and encourage them to enter oft-male-dominated careers.
Among 2023’s lineup are the Wojcicki sisters, three prominent names in their respective industries. Getting their own Barbie dolls are long-time YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki, who has been there since the early days of Google; 23AndMe co-founder and CEO Anne Wojcicki; and Janet Wojcicki, professor of Pediatrics and Epidemiology at the University of California.
“When I was starting my career, I struggled to find inspiring stories of other women excelling in STEM,” notes Janet Wojcicki in a statement. “I have been impressed with the increasing global relevance of Barbies… [and am] honored to serve as a Barbie role model this year and help children worldwide see women in places that they might want to be in one day.”
The ensemble also commemorates space scientist Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock from the UK, who is the first Black woman to get a gold at the Physics News Awards; marine researcher and microbiologist Prof Dr Antje Boetius from Germany; Mexican electrical engineer Katya Echazarret, who has been involved in five NASA missions and was the first woman born in Mexico to visit space; and Li Yinuo, the co-founder of ETU Education, a school startup in China developing more customized education.
While these dolls won’t be on sale, Mattel is taking its efforts to uplift gifted little girls beyond International Women’s Day. Joining the Barbie Career selection is a marine biologist doll, adding to more than 40 STEM roles already helmed by Barbie, like a doctor and an astrophysicist.
“Barbie is dedicated to showcasing women who are role models from all backgrounds, professions, and nationalities so that girls around the world can see themselves in careers that might not always seem as accessible,” explains Lisa McKnight, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Barbie & Dolls at Mattel.
“STEM is a field where women are severely underrepresented, and our hope is that honoring these seven leaders in science and technology will encourage girls to follow their passion in this field. This International Women’s Day, we’re proud to continue our work in closing the Dream Gap and reminding girls of their limitless potential.”
