What about Disabled Barbie?
Pretty in pink, but not worthy of a voice - even Barbie Land puts Disabled Barbie in the corner.
This won’t be an extensive article on Barbie as a masterpiece versus Barbie as a heteronormative-dream-come-true for all the women out there wishing to one day become mothers. No, this is simply a text with one question and one question only:
What about Disabled Barbie?
We did get a glimpse of her. Once in the background, then again in the center at the courthouse, and, finally, we even got a close up at Stereotypical Barbie’s party. She was dancing in her hot pink wheelchair; hair, face, and fit flawless just as her wheels. But more than that? Nope, not really. Not even a single line. Not one.
We didn’t get an occupation, just a look, which doesn’t really seems fair since we both got Writer Barbie, Doctor Barbie, Supreme Court Judge Barbie, President Barbie, and, of course, Beach Ken. And I mean, we all know - or we should all know - that it’s not until very recently that Just Disabled Barbie was even a thing.
In 1997, when Mattel released their first wheelchair users. Yes, you read that right, we were treated with two different versions; both of whom had busy lives for sure. One as a school photographer, the other one a Paralympian. (Or those dolls were named Becky, but close enough! I mean, opposed to Allan we got two Beckys anyway!) In 2019 though, it was about time to update the selection a bit. We now got several Barbies in several different colored chairs, as well as Prosthetic Barbie and Wheelchair Ken(s). This time, they didn’t come with any other features, such as a high tech (for the 90’s) camera or an epic sports backpack, but that’s all fine by me since now we knew Disabled Barbie (and Ken) could have it all. As of now, all Barbie Dreamhouses are accessible (according to ADA standards no less) and if you inherited a house from an older cousin or found one at a yard sale, don’t worry - the new chairs come with color matching ramps!
Disabled Barbie is living her best life - all in pink (or purple, or blue, or green, or perhaps orange - depending on the chair) and with no ableist bullshit what so ever.
… or is she?
Disabled Barbie got no lines in Greta Gerwig’s movie. And there was no Prosthetic Barbie, or Barbie with Down’s syndrome, to be seen. And where was Wheelchair Ken? For sure not fighting on the beach, nor was he serenading a Barbie (or Ken) by the campfire.
We did get Weird Barbie though. At least that counts for something. Maybe.