Barbie apologizes for its oversight on omitting an Olympic Asian doll, but its more complicated than that

Toymaker Mattel says the skateboarder Barbie, upper right, was supposed to be Asian.

OPINION

If you're going to use racial diversity as a selling point for your product, you better well not forget Asians. That's what chagrined toymaker Mattel found out with its five-doll collection of Olympic Barbies.

After recently relaunching the promotion of Olympic Barbie dolls first introduced earlier this year, the company received a social media backlash criticizing the company for not including a Barbie who appeared to be Asian.

The apparent oversight was heightened because the Olympics was being held in Japan and several Asian Americans won gold medals in their events.

“Our intention to represent the Asian community with the Skateboarder doll has failed and we fully welcome and acknowledge the comments,” a spokesperson said in a press release.

Mattel said their skateboard doll was meant to represent the Asian American community, but some Twitter users said they didn’t think the Barbie looked Asian.

Each of the five dolls in the collection reflects the five new sports that have been added to the Olympics: softball, sport climbing, karate, surfing and skateboarding.

Critics point to the achievements of Asian American Olympians this year, including American gymnast Hmong Suni Lee, who was the first Asian American to win gold in the all-around gymnastics, and the Filipino American fencer Lee Kiefer, who was the first Asian American woman to win a gold medal in overall fencing and Michael Norman, who won gold as a member of the 4x400 track relay team.

RELATED:

• Barbie introduces doll of Filipino American doctor
• Tennis star Naomi Osaka gets a Barbie lookalike

Mattel has already created Barbies to honor specific Asian athletes. A doll depicting snowboarder Chloe Kim, who won gold in snowboarding at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, was released right after the Games. And a few weeks before the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics, Mattel released a doll inspired by tennis player Naomi Osaka.

Even earlier, a Barbie was created in the likeness of skateboarder Sky Brown, a Japanese American who won a Bronze medal for Great Britain.

“In the future, we will work to find more ways to defend all performances and celebrate the incredible achievements of all Olympic athletes, who show us that anything is possible,” said a spokesperson for Mattel.

Asian enough? From left: Kee Kiefer, Paige McPherson, Ericka Sullivan and Michael Norman

OK, the following is my take: I'm avoiding this golden opportunity to jump on the anti-big corporation bandwagon to blast giant toymaker Mattel. Perhaps the skateboarder doll included in the Olympic collection did not look Asian -- enough.

There are Asian American Olympic athletes of mixed race that some would say could pass for Whites or Black. Tai kwon do competitor Paige McPherson, sprinter Michael Norman, swimmer Ericka Sullivan, surfer Carissa Moore and even Kiefer, though they identify Asian American, don't look like your prototypical (East) Asian, the default image of Asians held by the rest of the U.S.

But for some people who prefer racial , the ambiguity provided by people who claim more than one racial heritage is not good enough even though multiracial people are the fastest growing racial and ethnic category, according to the U.S. Census. The multiracial population has grown considerably since 2010. It was measured at 9 million people in 2010 and is now 33.8 million people in 2020, a 276% increase.

Our definition and our perception of who is Asian, or what an Asian "looks" like, needs to take into account the diversity and complexity of our communities to make room for people who might look like Skateboarder Barbie, who, I'm sure, continually get asked:  "Where are you from?" and "What are you?"

Barbie meets Naomi Osaka; Mattel releases new doll in the likeness of tennis star

MATTEL

Ken and Barbie, meet Naomi. The toymaker Mattel released a new Naomi Osaka doll.

With the Olympics and the U.S. Open in the near future, 2021 is already proving to be quite a year for tennis star Naomi Osaka. Last week she was named Sportswoman of the Year by ESPN and this week, Mattel released a Barbie® doll in Osaka's likeness.

"I want young girls everywhere to feel empowered to dream big and to know that if they believe in themselves that anything is possible," Osaka said in a statement provided by Mattel.

In 2019, she was a Barbie® Shero, honored with a doll in her likeness. Now, in 2021, we're thrilled to honor tennis player Naomi Osaka with a Barbie® Role Models Doll that's available for collectors and tennis fans around the world!

To make the Naomi Osaka Doll a reality, Barbie® Signature turned to designer Carlyle Nuera. He's well-known for the research he puts into his subjects, and when asked for his thoughts about her, he says, "Obviously Naomi’s athletic skill is unmatched, that's a fact. But what I personally admire the most about Naomi Osaka is how she uses her platform, the spotlight on her and her voice, to raise awareness about social justice."

This doll also represents the Roles Models who play a part in our ongoing Barbie Dream Gap Project. It's a global initiative designed to introduce girls to women’s stories from all walks of life, because imagining they can be anything is just the beginning. Actually seeing that they can makes all the difference!

Mattel says while 40% of athletes are women, female athletes only receive 7% of broadcast time, and Osaka has been an advocate for getting women athletes their due respect.

“We are incredibly honored to spotlight Naomi Osaka as part of our Barbie Role Model series," Lisa McKnight, senior vice president and global head of Barbie and dolls for Mattel explained. "

She has paved the way for future generations of girls to dream bigger, and through her unwavering courage and honesty, shown the world the importance of being your own biggest champion. Naomi continues to break boundaries on and off the court and is a powerful role model to fans everywhere."

The release of the $29.99 doll is not random. She just penned an essay for TIME, explaining why she felt it necessary to drop out of the French Open for mental health reasons. Although she trains and lives in the U.S., Osaka is about to represent Japan at the Tokyo Olympics later this month. She's also the subject of a Netflix documentary 3-part miniseries simply titled Naomi Osaka, premiering July 16.

"I feel like the platform that I have right now is something that I used to take for granted, and for me I feel like I should be using it for something," Osaka said in a Netflix press release. "I believe, instead of following, you have to make your own path."

Barbie's inclusion. Doll looks a lot like tennis champ Naomi Osaka

NAOMI OSAKA, GLOBAL ROLE MODEL

For a long time, to be called a Barbie was an insult. But Mattel, the company that makes the doll, has been trying to change the image of the unrealistic proportions and vapid mentality that its original doll has come to represent.

Baarbie turned 60 over the weekend and still going strong. But, being blond, blue-eyed with a wasp-like waist is not longer the ideal for the toymaker Mattel.

One of the strategies Mattel is trying to become more relevant is by producing a line of "Barbies" modeled after women from around the world who could serve as role models for young girls.

Barbie celebrated her 60th anniversary on Saturday (March 16) and International Women’s Day on Friday with the addition of new dolls inspired by real, successful women to its “Role Model” collection.

“The Barbie role model program is Mattel’s way of honouring women who are breaking boundaries to inspire the next generation of girls,” said Lisa Perry, brand manager for Mattel Canada, in a statement..

Among the "Sheroes" include tennis champ Naomi Osaka, and several other women who lead the way in art, tech, sports, media, and business.

One dollar from every doll sold will go toward the Dream Gap Project, an initiative put forth by Mattel to “level the playing field for girls,” according to a press release. “Research has shown that starting at age five, girls start doubting their potential, this is the Dream Gap.”

“For me, it’s a really big honor,” Osaka told HuffPost. “I can only hope to be as big of a role model as those women have been. I just hope that I inspire people as well.”

Osaka, who’s half Japanese and half Haitian, added that it means a lot to her that Barbie chose to add a biracial athlete to their Shero line.

“A lot of parents of biracial kids, whenever they see me, they come up to me and sometimes they cry, they always say that their kid looks up to me and I feel like that’s a big responsibility,” she said. “But it’s also an honor because I feel like I’m representing not only me but a bunch of other kids that maybe wouldn’t have gotten that chance to be represented.”

THE MADDIE ROBINSON BARBIE

Mattel also selected its first Maori role model in Melodie Robinson, whose likeness has curly brown hair and brown skin.

"Seriously cool to be selected to inspire young girls with the first ever New Zealand Barbie - she's Maori and a commentator!" Robinson posted in Instagram.

Robinson was an international rugby union player who won two rugby world cups with New Zealand's women's team - the Black Ferns. She later went on to become a sports journalist.

“The Barbie brand believes girls should never know a world, job, or dream women haven’t conquered," said Lisa McKnight, General Manager and Senior Vice President, Barbie. "Through our global platform, we are igniting a movement to help close the Dream Gap and further establish Barbie as the ultimate girl empowerment brand.”

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Forget Barbie, now your kid can have Chloe Kim as a doll.

The Chloe Kim doll comes with a nowboard.

IT'S BEEN QUITE a month for Olympic hero Chloe Kim: Beginning with her gold medal in the Winter Olympics, she made the Sports Illustrated cover, had her likeness on a cereal box, guest starred on Jimmy Fallon's late night talk show and got a shoutout during the Oscars from best actress winner Frances McDormand. 

How do you top all that? Well, you get a Barbie doll in your image. It's a pretty good likeness of Chloe too, down to the color of her hair to having her own snowboard with the Olympic mascot clinging to it. Not bad for a 17-year old from California.

Ahead of International Women's Day, Barbie is honoring 17 historical and modern-day role models from around the world. These women come from diverse backgrounds and fields and are breaking boundaries to inspire the next generation of girls. With 81 percent* of moms globally worried about the type of role models their children are exposed to, Barbie is igniting a conversation around the importance of positive role models. 

"As a brand that inspires the limitless potential in girls, Barbie will be honoring its largest line up of role models timed to International Women's Day because we know that you can't be what you can't see," said Lisa McKnight, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Barbie. 

Sparking a global conversation leading up to International Women's Day, the Barbie brand is honoring 14 modern-day role models through its Shero program. The toy company honors women who have broken boundaries in their fields and have been an inspiration to the next generation of boys and girls with a one-of-a-kind doll made in their likeness. 

Besides Kim, other Global honorees include:

• Patty Jenkins, Filmmaker, USA – The first woman in history to helm a film with a budget in excess of 100 million dollars for WONDER WOMAN, which broke the record for Biggest Grossing Live-Action Film Directed by a Woman – domestic and worldwide

• Bindi Irwin, Conservationist, Australia – International award-winning wildlife conservationist and celebrity who inherited her father's passion for wildlife and is dedicated to inspiring the next generation to make a difference in the world

• Nicola Adams, Boxing Champion, UK – Two-time gold medalist who is Great Britain's most successful female boxer of all time and is the only female boxer in the history of the sport to have held all four amateur titles

• Çağla Kubat, Windsurfer, Turkey – Champion windsurfer and member of the Fenerbahçe sailing and windsurfing team who founded her own windsurfing school for young surfers

• Hélène Darroze, World-Renowned Chef, France – Inspirational fourth-generation French chef with three restaurants and two Michelin stars

• Hui Ruoqi, Volleyball Champion, China – Fifteenth Captain of the Chinese women's national volleyball team who also won gold in the 2016 summer games

• Leyla Piedayesh, Designer and Entrepreneur, Germany – Iranian immigrant and founder of fashion label lala Berlin that incorporates urban-cool and elegant-chic elements in its high-quality knitwear

• Lorena Ochoa, Professional Golfer, Mexico – Athlete, mother, entrepreneur and unbreakable promoter of golf in Mexico

• Martyna Wojciechowska, Journalist, Poland – TV presenter, magazine editor, author, director and the second Polish woman to conquer the Seven Summits

• Sara Gama, Soccer Player, Italy – Captain of Juventus and Italian national soccer team, member of the Federal Board and President of Commission for the development of women's soccer

• Xiaotong Guan, Actress and Philanthropist, China – Ambassador for "World Life Day," a joint campaign by the United Nations Environment Program, International Fund for Animal Welfare and The Nature Conservancy, and known as the "Nation's Daughter" in China

• Yuan Tan, Prima Ballerina, China – Prima ballerina and principal dancer at the San Francisco Ballet and guest principal dancer at the Hong Kong Ballet

• Vicky Martin Berrocal, Entrepreneur and Fashion Designer, Spain – Leads the creative direction of Victoriacompany with collections that include festive costumes, flamenco dresses, gowns, handbags and jewelry.

The 14 role models put forth by Mattel.

In addition, Mattel introduced the Inspiring Women doll line series. These historical dolls come with educational information about the contributions each woman made to society and their respective fields. The first three dolls in this series are:

• Amelia Earhart – First female aviator to fly across the Atlantic Ocean, courageously challenging the conventions of the times by breaking and setting aviation records
• Frida Kahlo – Artist who gained recognition for her unique style and perspective, and became a celebrated artist, activist and symbol of strength
• Katherine Johnson –  Pioneer in mathematics who broke through barriers of race and gender, and joined a pool of women hired by NASA to work as 'human computers' to calculate the trajectory of the first American-manned flight into space

For more information on the global role models and program, click here. 

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There’s a Ken doll for almost everyone ...

YOU CAN'T  really fault the Barbie doll manufacturer with its attempt to diversify its products.

Like many other companies, Mattel learned that diversity is good for business since its market is growing increasing diverse. The blond, unrealistic proportions of its original Barbie doll were damaging to many young girls' self-images, most of whom were not blond and none of whom could match the skinny waist and generous bosom of Barbie.

Mattel says the diversity movement in its doll products, the "Fashionistas" line — of which the new Ken doll is now a part — has seen double digit growth globally since its roll-out.
The first step, of course, was creating a bunch of new Barbie dolls reflecting the different races, ethnicities and a variety of more realistic body types.

Step two: Doing the same thing for the Ken doll, Barbie's boyfriend(s). There's the lineup: blacks, blonds, Latinos, a couple of blondes, short ones, tall ones and even one sporting a man-bun wearing a Hawaiian shirt (I can only surmise he's Polynesian.) 

One question though. Where's the Asian version of Ken? 

We're told he's this one:

Uh. Why does the Asian doll look so caucasian? Nothing against hapas, but if we're talking about diversifying the Ken line, why not really show the differences? Again, not disparaging mixed race Asians like Darren Criss, but wouldn't actors Steven Yeun or John Cho been better models for the "Asian" doll?

And why - oh, why - is the purported Asian version of the Ken doll the only one wearing horn-rimmed glasses?

"We are redefining what a Barbie or Ken doll looks like to this generation," Lisa McKnight, senior vice president and general manager, Barbie, said in a press release. McKnight says the new Ken, "allows girls to further personalize the role they want him to play in Barbie's world."

The new "Kens" - the gang's all here.

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