Barbie is launching its first Down syndrome doll to help more children have a toy that represents them.
Executives at the company that makes Barbie, Mattel, said they wanted to release the doll to "enable all children to see themselves in Barbie". They partnered with the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) in the US to bring the product to market.
The doll has a pendant that represents three copies of the 21st chromosome, which is the genetic material that causes Down syndrome.
The doll is part of the Barbie Fashionistas line, which launched in 2022 and also features a Barbie with a prosthetic leg and a Barbie who uses a wheelchair.
Mattel has described this collection as "the most diverse and comprehensive line of dolls, offering a variety of skin tones, eye colors, hair colors and textures, body types, disabilities and fashion, to inspire even more stories".
In recent years, Mattel has released more inclusive Barbies, taking inspiration from women who have changed societal norms.
