Order in the courtroom! The new Barbie channels Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and is Mattel’s 2019 Barbie Career of the Year doll.
On Twitter, the company wrote, “With over 200 careers since 1959, this year Barbie takes the stand as a Judge! The Barbie Judge Doll encourages girls to learn more about making decisions to change the world for the better.”
The 86-year Ginsburg is certainly the best model for the new Barbie Judge doll. Appointed Associate Justice to the Supreme Court in 1993, Ginsburg is a trailblazer in the area of gender and race equality and women’s rights, and is one of only four women who have been appointed to the United States Supreme Court.
In a statement, Mattel stressed that Judge Barbie was chosen as the Career of the Year doll as only 33% of sitting United States state judges are women. The new Barbie is attired in the usual black robe, and a lacy collar similar to that of the legendary Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
The doll comes with a gavel and round block “that kids can use to help her call the room to order and make important decisions,” according to Mattel.
Mattel is not just on a quest to inspire millions of girls, but children of all genders. The new Barbie was launched after Mattel released “Creatable World,” a line of gender-inclusive dolls. Various elements of the doll – hair, clothes, and accessories – can be customized, allowing children to create toys that do not necessarily follow gender norms.
The doll is sold as a kit, with varying hairstyles and clothing options. According to Mattel, “We see this line as an opportunity for us to open up that dialogue around what dolls are for and who dolls are for. And also as the world begins the celebrate the positive impact of inclusivity, we absolutely fundamentally believed it was time to launch a doll line free of labels and free of rules for kids.”
In addition to new Barbie dolls that inspire and call for inclusivity, Barbie continues to launch projects to support empowerment.
Barbie just collaborated with GoFundMe to raise funds to “close the dream gap,” with funds directed toward three non-profit organizations – She’s The First, She Should Run, and Step Up – that have programs on education and confidence building, leadership roles and politics, and educational and career advancement.
The project was developed as research shows that as early as age five, many girls begin to think about what they can accomplish in life, and oftentimes they believe these ambitions can be hindered by their gender – hence the Dream Gap. The project aims to create a level playing field by providing the necessary tools and resources so that children everywhere can reach their dreams and ambitions.
Barbie also works on unleashing the limitless potential of children by conducting research and developing school curricula to empower children and women, creating content and stories that address issues of children and women, stimulating imagination, challenging gender stereotypes, embracing other cultures, highlighting role models, and nurturing social and emotional learning through toys and various projects.
The new Barbie doll, which is now available on Amazon, taking its cue from a diminutive but tenacious, brilliant, and influential judge, is sure to motivate millions of children to consider a career in law in their future.