22% Believe Mattel’s Barbie Doll Launch Is a Step Towards Inclusivity in the Toys Industry

Barbie doll manufacturer Mattel launched a new Barbie doll with Down’s syndrome in their Fashionista line. Mattel’s launch of the Barbie Doll with Down’s syndrome was well-received by the public, with a majority of our respondents supporting the move towards greater inclusivity and representation in toys, with some stating that it would help promote awareness and understanding of the condition to people who may not have been exposed to it.

However, there were also some criticisms from individuals who felt that Barbie with Down syndrome was being used for commercial gain and did not truly represent the diverse experiences of individuals with Down syndrome in our society. Overall, the launch of the Down syndrome Barbie doll sparked important conversations about representation and inclusion in the toy industry.

Hence, Real Research, an online survey app, launched a survey on public opinion on Mattel’s launch of Barbie doll with Down’s syndrome to gauge further public perception of the product.

Highlights:

• 35.59% are unaware of Mattel’s launch of the Barbie doll with Down’s syndrome.
• 26.33% believe the new Barbie doll with Down’s syndrome could promote empathy and compassion among children towards individuals with disabilities.
• 40.62% are neutral about their stance on Mattel expanding Barbie’s diversity and representation in its collection.

In an effort to make it easier for more kids to discover a toy that reflects them, Barbie is releasing its first doll with Down’s syndrome.

The doll was created, according to Mattel executives, to “enable all children to see themselves in Barbie.” To get the product on the market, they collaborated with the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) in the US. When we asked our respondents if they were aware of this product development, 35.59% said that they were unaware, while 34.82% were vaguely aware, and 29.59% were aware of the launch.

A Step Forward in Empowering Children with Disabilities and Fostering Inclusivity

In the following poll, we asked the respondents about their opinion on Mattel’s launch of the Barbie doll with Down’s syndrome. The results indicate that a majority of 21.8% of respondents believed that it was a step towards inclusivity in the toy industry, whereas 16.32% believed that it was a marketing gimmick to make more money.

Similarly, 15.18% believed that it was an unnecessary addition when other diverse options already exist, and another 15.12% believed that it was an approach to reach the untapped audience base.

Lastly, 19.16% were uncertain about their opinions and remained unanswered, while 12.42% stated other reasons. According to Figure 2, the poll asked the respondents, “How do you think the new Barbie doll with Down’s syndrome could benefit children with the condition or those who know someone with the condition?” The results suggest that most (26.33%) believed that it could help to promote empathy and compassion among children towards individuals with Down’s syndrome and other disabilities.

In addition, 15.64% believed that it could serve as a valuable education tool for parents and caregivers to use when teaching children about differences and disabilities, 15.28% stated that it could help normalize and promote understanding of Down’s syndrome among children who may not have been exposed to it before.

14.97% stated it could provide the child with the condition of a toy that represents them and allows them to see themselves in a positive light.

Lastly, 12.4% believed it could help reduce stigma and negative attitudes towards individuals with Down’s syndrome and 15.38% stated other reasons.

Importance of Representation of Diversity in Toys

Furthermore, the survey asked the respondents about the importance of diverse representation of toys and other consumer products.

The responses were: somewhat important (33.53%), extremely important (21.25%), not very important (8.88%), and not important at all (2.83%). Lastly, 33.51% of respondents remained neutral.

Promote Awareness and Understanding of Similar Disabilities

The launch of the new Barbie doll with Down syndrome has the potential to increase awareness and foster understanding of Down syndrome and other disabilities, according to 33.06% of respondents when asked if this initiative would do either of those things.

According to 28.62% of respondents, it’s too early to assess the impact, and we should watch people’s reactions instead. The release of the new Barbie doll, according to 18.18% of respondents, won’t significantly contribute to fostering knowledge of Down syndrome and other disabilities.

Lastly, 20.14% remained uncertain about it.

Moreover, based on the next poll, 37.37% supported Mattel expanding Barbie’s diversity and representation in its inclusion collection, whereas 22.01% opposed it, and 40.62% remained neutral.

The final survey poll questioned asked if they believed that Ken dolls should also be diverse to represent different social groups in light of this most recent development. Results indicated that 43.88% said yes, compared to 19.87% who said no. Meanwhile, 36.25% of respondents remained uncertain.