Mattel debuted the Barbie Judge Doll, its 2019 Barbie Career of the Year doll.
“With over 200 careers since 1959, this year Barbie takes the stand as a Judge!” the company wrote on Twitter. “The Barbie Judge Doll encourages girls to learn more about making decisions to change the world for the better.”
Each year Mattel features a new career Barbie particularly ones that lack female representation. The company chose a judge as its Career of the Year doll after learning that only 33% of sitting US state judges are women.
“There isn’t a plastic ceiling that Barbie hasn’t broken,” Lisa McKnight, senior vice president and global brand general manager of Barbie, told USA TODAY.
Judge Barbie is available in a variety of different skin tones and hairstyles. She comes with a gavel and round block that kids can use to really get into the role of leading a court room.
This type of representation within a brand is going to introduce young girls to a career they may not be privy to. Inspiring girls to be leaders or judges in this case instead or in addition to homemakers, fashionistas or models is a huge moment.
I also appreciate the fact that Mattel didn’t leave out any details when it came to the doll’s fashion. Judge Barbie’s career-themed look includes a removable customary black robe and a lacy collar. Underneath is a fashion-forward floral printed dress. I love the visual ideal of a female leader can also be fashionable. There is this unspoken biased view that a female has to sacrifice family or fashion for leadership roles. It’s a pain point that’s long overdue for correcting.
A year ago, the company launched the “Barbie Dream Gap Project” in an effort raise awareness of the issue. Now, near the project’s anniversary and Day of the Girl, Barbie is partnering with GoFundMe.org, the social fundraising site’s non-profit and advocacy arm, to raise money to support girl-empowerment programs.
Judge Barbie comes after Mattel released a line of gender-inclusive dolls, called “Creatable World.” The line allows kids to customize their doll to create a toy that isn’t dictated by gender norms.
