By Kate Kotler
Priya Ganapati of Gadget Lab (on the WIRED blog network) was the FTR today that Mattel is soon to release a new Barbie doll – designed with the help of the Society for Women Engineers – called “Computer Engineer Barbie.”
Supposedly this Barbie Doll is “realistic and representative” of “women engineers.”
In theory, I quite like this newest addition to the Barbie pantheon. I think that it is important to -even using fluffy pink things- inform girls and young women in as many ways as possible that careers in science, technology and math are viable ones that they should look into… Having a mainstream “female” cultural icon such as Barbie show interest in a career in Computer Sciences and Engineering is a great and important forward step.
The doll even has great “authentic geek” touches like binary code on her t-shirt that spells out Barbie, geek glasses and a Bluetooth accessory. Plus, they have her wearing flats instead of heels – a fairly authentic touch – as I have yet to meet a chick computer engineer who wears heels to and from work.
At the same time: SO MUCH PINK!!! Personally, I hate the “pinking” of technology in order to make it appeal to women. Even girls. Myself, as a girl, I was much more inclined to go for things which were NOT pink. But, perhaps I’m unusual in that respect. Having a predominantly pink computer-gadget-girl doll mentally associates it with the dumbing down of tech. I’ve expounded upon this topic before and in great detail, so I won’t bore you all with a repeat of that rant… But, why couldn’t they have thrown in a few colors OTHER than pink to this new Barbie? I’m sure that she’d appreciate the break from being soooo girly every day. How about a little red or black or purple in there?
Another good point: Why does she have to be blond? (Or, white for that matter?)
Says Associate Editor, Eden “I agree with friends that it’s too bad she’s not a brunette.”
In this day and age – especially since this update on career is supposed to promote diversity – it would be sooo cool to see a Barbie model that didn’t fit the tall, blond, disproportionate body image that we ladies have come to expect. It might go a ways to help promote heathier body images with the youngin’s – you know?
Overall, it is my conclusion that the Computer Engineer Barbie is a good thing. So bravo to Mattel for putting it out… we look forward to what Barbie chooses to do next.
[Images via WIRED & Mattel]
I was going to suggest we say something about this, but you beat me to it.
I don’t mind that she’s full of pink because Barbie’s about fantasy for little girls. I love that some 6-year-old who loves computers might see this and want to play with it and realize, hey, I can have this job.
And I mean, I remember the whole Talking Barbie “Math class is tough!” thing. Yes, that was in 1992, but it still makes me happy to see Barbie as a computer engineer.
Oh snap, I forgot about the “math class is tough” Barbie… booo Mattel!
I wonder if it had been anything but the standard barbie colors if people would accuse mattel of not thinking that computer engineers could be cute.