Astrophysicist, wildlife photographer or marine biologist are some of the new models of the iconic doll launched by the toy company Mattel and National Geographic
Undoubtedly, Barbie is one of the first toys that comes to mind when thinking about the most popular and globally known dolls.
The figure of this blonde with blue eyes and kilometric legs has been the queen of the toy store practically since its launch in the sixties until now, and since then it has been evolving and changing according to the trends of the moment, now it is not so blonde .
The doll appears brunette with copper highlights, chestnut with golden reflections or brown with lighter strands in various shades.
Under different physical aspects and with different styles, Barbie has changed as much as society has: Veterinarian, singer or skater have been until now some of the multiple versions of the doll that have been launched on the market. But what about scientific jobs?
A new identification model
According to recent studies, including the report "Cracking the Code: Girls’ and women’s education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)" published in 2017 by UNESCO, the fact that the number of women who opt for scientific careers is low is directly related to the low number of role models of successful women in this sector.
The study affirms that stereotypes transmitted unconsciously by the social context, mainly in the childhood phase, directly affect the choice of the university career or the training field, so introducing references to this age that make these areas visible It is essential so that when choosing a sector it is not done in a biased way.
The power of the game to inspire a new benchmark
Under this increasingly consolidated premise, the Barbie toy company, Mattel, and National Geographic have announced a global collaboration, creating a new product line inspired by science, research, and exploration, seeking to consolidate benchmarks in the scientific field , so far relegated to the background in the sector, breaking current stereotypes and representing today’s women.
For the creation of this new product line, they have chosen different models inspired by professions related to the National Geographic universe, giving special prominence to those where women still have little representation.
Astrophysicist, marine polar biologist, wildlife photographer or entomologist are some of these versions, which will arrive at toy stores with a "kit" of accessories related to these professions.
In addition, the production of the dolls has been overseen by an advisory board of National Geographic explorers and the magazine’s editor-in-chief, Susan Goldberg.
“We are excited to be able to connect with girls and boys in a new way, using the power of play to inspire the next generation of explorers, scientists and photographers,” said Goldberg.
A new identification model that will be present in today’s gaming moments, and also in tomorrow’s scientific future.