19 Aug Entrepreneur Barbie: A Step In the Right “Play Time” Direction
Barbie ha
s been many things in her 55 year life: a doctor, lawyer, mom, astronaut, camp councilor and divorcee. The pink plastic bombshell can now add self-employed vixen to her list. Mattel recently released a new Entrepreneur Barbie to their franchise and the doll comes dressed to the nines in a form fitting pink dress and black pumps. Boss-lady also comes accessorized with a iPad and iPhone-ish accessories (presumably because you must always been connected when you are building an empire). I’m sure many people will decry Mattel for keeping the new start-up version of Barbie so similar to the Barbie of days past (all pink, busty and perfectly pencil-thin) and they wouldn’t be wrong. Barbie is long-due for a modern makeover (can I get a real body type, African American version with natural or curly hair?), but at least the doll offers young girls an vehicle to image themselves as business owners and company founders.
As an business owner and PR Professional, I am also digging the marketing campaign #unapologetic, which on Twitter is mix of motivational messages and start-up business tips for young girls. Yes I do see the irony of the unapologetic hashtag. As a marketer I am simply impressed with their head-first approach to what they knew would be a controversial roll-out.
The doll is currently available in four ethnicities (Caucasian, Hispanic, African American and Asian) and retails for $12.99. Entrepreneur Barbie may not be the absolute answer to helping girls see themselves in non-traditional business roles, but it is a solid start.
Would you buy one for your daughter?
-à bientôt
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