Key points:
- Researchers argue that Barbie dolls should represent more STEM fields, and include more accurate accessories.
- The study says more than a lab coat and stethoscope should be included, such as proper footwear and PPE.
- “With an expanded line, Barbies can be inspirational to young girls' views of surgeons and scientists, rather than allowing these careers to be aspirational.”
Did you buy your child or grandchild a Barbie for Christmas? If so, which one was it? While there are a good amount of Barbie’s representing STEM fields, a new suggests we need more. Specifically, that Barbie should be expanded to include medical and scientific careers where women and other under-represented groups remain a minority.
For her new study published in the Christmas issue of The BMJ, researcher Katherine Klamer compared the medical and scientific fields that Barbie dolls worked in with other career dolls to determine whether they met clinical and laboratory safety standards.
Doll careers were identified by visually analyzing clothing, accessories, and packaging, and their personal safety accessories were assessed according to Indiana University guidelines.
Barbie career dolls were overwhelmingly depicted as adult (98%), female (93%), and white (59%) and no doll was depicted as having a visible disability. Of the comparison dolls, 32% were white and one doll had a prosthetic arm. Barbie medical professional dolls also largely treated children (66%), with only three dolls (4%) depicted working with adult patients.
Other than three ophthalmologist dolls, all Barbie brand doctor dolls appeared to have either no specialty or were pediatricians with no apparent subspecialty.
Barbie dolls often came with items, such as laboratory coats, microscopes, stethoscopes, and glasses. However, no doll fully met professional safety standards for their respective fields. For example, 98% of the Barbie brand doctor dolls came with stethoscopes, but only 4% had face masks and none had disposable gloves.
More than two-thirds of Barbie brand female medical professional and scientist dolls also wore loose hair, and more than half wore high-heeled shoes, even in settings where this would be discouraged or actively prohibited for safety reasons. Of the 12 scientist Barbie brand dolls, none met all proper personal protective equipment requirements related to hair and clothing.
Klamer says themed dolls help to inspire tomorrow's medical professionals and scientists and she urges all toy companies to create better, more accurate, and professionally diverse medical professional and scientist dolls.
“For young girls' sakes as much as her own, Barbie must keep shattering glass ceilings,” she concludes. “With an expanded line, Barbies can be inspirational to young girls' views of surgeons and scientists, rather than allowing these careers to be aspirational. What better way than to have Barbie be the first as she has done in the past?”