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Do We Really Need a Bald Barbie?

Do We Really Need a Bald Barbie?

It was only a matter of time…

I’ve never been a Barbie kind of gal for many reasons. I never had one. The primary reason being one of my older sisters got a Barbie for Christmas one year, so therefore she had a claim on the Barbie brand. “Barbie land” for me was off limits. Why I have no idea. I guess it was the pecking order of things at my house. Me, I received a Tammy doll that same year.

Never heard of the Tammy doll?

That’s not too surprising. I guess Tammy didn’t catch on like Barbie. Could it be because Tammy looked more realistic, more ordinary, more normal?

Tammy had a noticeably (yes, my sister and I definitely noticed) thicker figure, smaller breasts and larger feet. She also “wore” more sensible clothing. Like Barbie, she too had a younger sister, but interestingly enough, she did not have a boyfriend like Barbie’s Ken. Hmm…

Barbie on the other hand, well we’re all familiar with Barbie and her fine attributes.

But I’d like to stress here, I’m not opposed to Barbie dolls. If they are/were your or your child’s forte, that’s fine with me. It really is.

And for the record, I’d also like to mention I do have a daughter. She never was into dolls period. Never wanted a Barbie. Never received a Barbie.

It’s entirely possible for girls to survive, grow up and turn out just fine without ever owning a Barbie!

Recently there has been a lot of buzz about Mattel possibly mass producing a Cancer Bald Barbie. There has even been a Facebook petition drive going on to persuade Mattel to do so. So far Mattel has resisted, stating they don’t generally send unsolicited toy ideas to their toy designers. In this case, I think Mattel is doing the right thing by not proceeding.

After visiting one of the Bald Barbie Facebook pages, (yes, there are several) I guess I must be in the minority on this one, but here goes…

The mission as stated on their Facebook page is as follows:

“We would like to see a Beautiful and Bald Barbie made to help young girls who suffer from hair loss due to cancer treatments, Alopecia or Trichotillomania. Also, for young girls who are having trouble coping with their mother’s hair loss from chemo.”

Although I believe those hopping onto the “Bald Barbie bandwagon” do have the best intentions, I still can’t quite get behind the idea of a bald cancer Barbie and I’m not even entirely sure why not. I do know I don’t like the mixed messages such a doll might give.

Such as?

Primarily, because there’s nothing “normal” about having cancer, especially when you’re a child, and no doll, bald or otherwise is going to change that fact. It doesn’t matter how many bald dolls you surround a child with, that child will still know she is not “normal.”

And choosing Barbie as a “normal” role model seems pretty ridiculous to me somehow.

Is Barbie the best choice here?

For example, I would feel a lot more comfortable with this whole idea if instead of Barbie, her little sister Skipper was chosen to be the bald cancer doll in the Barbie line-up. That’s an idea I could maybe get behind.

A child-like doll for a childhood illness makes way more sense to me. Such a doll would also make the statement that children do indeed get cancer.

Is anyone listening?

In addition to Bald Barbie, there is a “Brave GI Joe” cancer doll idea also being tossed around.

Why does the boy cancer doll get to be called brave?

Can’t Bald Barbie be brave too?

Why is the female version of this plan primarily focused on hair and outer beauty?

Doesn’t that bother others?

It bothers me.

In addition, call me cynical, but in my view this is also another example of the disease of cancer potentially being turned into yet another way to make a buck. It makes me uncomfortable to see profits being made directly from selling cancer merchandise, especially toys.

The cancer industry is alive and well, but in toyland?

I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before bald Barbie makes her appearance on store shelves.

People will undoubtedly find Bald Barbie packaged up in a beautifully adorned box with cancer ribbons, probably gold ones because gold ones represent childhood cancer. Parents and others will dig into their pockets and buy Bald Barbie. On top of “helping little girls with cancer to feel beautiful,” they will also have made their cancer donations. They will have accomplished two good deeds in one.

Sounds good on the surface doesn’t it?

But who is really going to benefit?

Is the little girl who has cancer really going to feel more normal and beautiful by playing with Bald Barbie? Is this really a doll’s job? Even more importantly, is Bald Barbie going to bring the little girl with cancer any closer to a cure?

I’ve never had a child with cancer, but blogger Mary Tyler Mom has experienced this heart-ache and she agrees with me. Another who also agrees is A.S. Becker, blogger from the American Cancer Society’s Media Relations Team, who states in his recent post that the Bald Barbie demand is an over-reach. Their two posts are well worth a look.

In my opinion, a child with cancer does not need a token bald doll. In my opinion, what a child with cancer does need is less harsh cancer treatment options. That child needs hope for a normal life span. That child needs a cure. Her family may be in dire financial straits. They may or may not have medical insurance. They may have huge travel, living and medical expenses. They may have to take time away from work. They may need help caring for other children in the family. They may need psychological counseling. The list of things they may need is endless.

Wouldn’t it make more sense for Mattel (or anyone) to give or keep giving directly to a cancer research organization or other charities that provide direct help to those affected by childhood cancers?

Finally, do you really believe Mattel would donate a significant amount of any profits it might make from Bald Barbie to cancer facilities or cancer research?

Again, call me skeptical, but I don’t believe they would.

And even if “painted gold,” it still feels like more “pinkwashing” of cancer to me.

I happen to believe little girls (and boys) with cancer deserve more.

Good intentions will not help children with cancer lead longer lives. Better treatments and cures will do that.

It’s our responsibility to see they get both.

Like always, it’s about choice.

As for me, I say no to bald Barbie.

What about you?

Do you believe a Bald Barbie is a good idea? Why or why not?

Are you troubled by mixed messages Bald Barbie might give?

Just wondering, have you ever heard of the Tammy doll?

 

Jessica

Saturday 2nd of February 2019

Not going to get deep on the subject, primarily b/c of how old this is, but just a simple statement and question. You actually did state alopecia areata, along with the fact that cancer is not normal. True. However alopecia is very normal, many times permanent, and very common, even more commonly hidden by individuals embarrassed and not seeing a society that matches them. So my question is, why state alopecia in the description but focus on cancer, thus further plaguing the disease of alopecia?

Nancy

Monday 4th of February 2019

Jessica, Well, because this is a cancer blog, I suppose. I appreciate you taking time to read and comment too. Thank you.

Linda

Tuesday 14th of November 2017

As the grandmother of a young women with total alopecia, i can only speak from our experience : . . My 22 year old was thrilled to be gifted with a bald Barbie. This young women will someday be Dr. Sydney, a chiropractor with no hair, no wig and knows that someday, somewhere a little girl will cross her path who will love having a Babie that looks like her and she will gift her. Don’t judge folks, remember “ not right, not wrong, just different”. It’s really important to remember that no one size fits everyone. If you don’t approve of the doll, don’t purchase.

Haley

Saturday 14th of April 2018

Linda I’m with you. I was really disturbed with the strong oppinons against the ‘choice’ of buying a bald barbie. My 4 year old has Alopecia and it would be nice to have the option of a doll (does not have to be barbie, but this is one of the biggest doll companies that will reach the farthest) that has no hair- to show that it is normal! 1 in 50 people have Alopecia. Yet all the dolls I see have long waist length hair. The choice and having my girl and her friends see the dolls and see that it is not strange. It’s not all about cancer.

Terry

Friday 17th of August 2012

Mattel originally was not going to produce the bald Barbie, but then the makers of Bratz dolls decided to make a bald cancer awareness doll and Mattel, never to be outdone, quickly changed their tune. The Bratz dolls are already being sold, but I don't think the Barbie has been released yet.

Nancy

Friday 17th of August 2012

Terry, Thank you for this update. Let's just hope Mattel is not bringing theirs out in October. Guess you know my thoughts on this matter...

Sara B

Sunday 29th of January 2012

I am so confused. Call me crazy, but Barbie is a WOMAN, not a child. Awareness of childhood cancer??? come on now.

IN ADDITION, if anyone really wants a bald barbie, cut her hair off. Show her losing her hair. This can be done individually.

In terms of selling another anything celebrating cancer...

Well, we see where that's gotten us with breast cancer. It's made corporations a LOT of money, while leaving those affected with a bad taste in our mouths.

This would just be another money maker for Matel...even if the idea orifinated elsewhere.

Nancy

Sunday 29th of January 2012

Sarah, You summed up some of my feelings on this topic rather well. Thank you!

Susan Beausang

Wednesday 25th of January 2012

I think I'm sitting on the fence, though leaning on the side of pro-bald Barbie here, but that's largely bc like Kristin, I know what it feels like to have an image outside all mainstream concepts of "normal" or "beautiful." And when I read of the bald Barbie, I noted that this isn't Mattel's idea. They're not leading the show, not even willingly being dragged along. No, it's parents of children who've had/have cancer. There's been a whole lot of cancer in my family, but fortunately, it's been all adult cancer. Who am I to say what those kids and their families do/don't need or what would/wouldn't benefit them? And lastly, for all those bald Alopecian girls and boys out there, Bald Barbies might just mean something.

Thanks for the post! Susan

Nancy

Saturday 28th of January 2012

Susan, Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on this one. I value your opinions a great deal.