Black Barbie, But Why The Long Hair?

by Brett Singer (Subscribe to Brett Singer's posts) Oct 9th 2009 2:16PM

Categories: In The News, Toys & Games, Shopping

Barbie So In Style designer Stacey McBride-Irby with her mini creations. Credit: Mattel/AP

Mattel has launched a new line of Barbies called So In Style, designed to look more like young black girls.

Except for the hair. The hair is straight.

And that has some parents crying foul.

According to a report by The Associated Press, the new dolls have "fuller lips, a wider nose and more pronounced cheekbones" and resemble a black person's features rather then Mattel's 1960s attempt at racial inclusiveness, which "was essentially a white doll painted brown."

While parents and pundits are praising many aspects of the new line -- a focus on education and mentoring, for example, and the varied skin tones -- they are also asking about the hair.

At first, this may sound silly. But look at the trailer for Chris Rock's new film, a documentary called "Good Hair," that explores the relationship that black women have with their hair.

Rock decided to make the film when his young daughter came home and asked her dad why she didn't have "good hair." Good hair, Rock discovered, means straight hair.

Two of the dolls have what the AP describes as "curlier hair," and quotes the doll's designer, Stacey McBride-Irby, as saying that she wanted young black girls to "to see themselves within these dolls, and let them know that black is beautiful."

If that's the case, some parents ask, then why the straight hair?

Mattel also sells a kit that allows girls to straighten and style their dolls' hair. That adds to the problem, according to Sheri Parks, a professor at the University of Maryland. "Black mothers who want their girls to love their natural hair have an uphill battle and these dolls could make it harder," Parks told the AP.

One positive, of course, is that no matter what is on their heads, these dolls look a lot more like actual young black women than the original black Barbie doll does. One little girl is quoted in the article as saying "She looks like me!" when she saw one of the dolls, mostly because the So In Style line doesn't stick with just one skin color.

Of course, there is still Barbie's impossibly skinny waist and big chest to deal with. But Rome wasn't built in a day, right?

What do you think? Is this a real issue or much ado about nothing?

Related: Pole-Dancing Doll, Breast-Feeding Doll

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Comments (294)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 15)

Gwendolyn 10-09-2009 @ 4:54PM

It's a bit messed up for the black barbie to be given 'white' hair. Even the white barbie hair isn't realistic. Barbie really needs to be made to look like she eats *and* has more realistic body parts.

suz 10-11-2009 @ 3:07PM

While your points are valid, I disagree the concept of 'white' hairstyles. THERE IS NO LONGER A RACE PROBLEM WITH ANY HAIR. It's ANYTHING GOES IN THAT DEPARTMENT, SO STOP WHINING AND GET CREATIVE!!!

Tina 10-11-2009 @ 4:44PM

Maybe I'm different than most people, but I never depended on Barbie to represent me in any area of life. I wasn't anything like her, nor were most girls I knew. Yes, I'm white, but I'm short, my hair is very curly, and if anyone really has her skin tone, I think there might be a problem there. I used to try to straighten and straighten my hair in the mornings (because that was the fashion), but by the time I got to school, it would be curly again. I finally gave up and decided to like my hair the way it is, and now I think it's one of my best features. The white Barbie never was, and never is going to be exactly like every white girl, and the black one isn't going to be like every black girl, either. It's a doll, for crying out loud.

Vicky 10-11-2009 @ 5:18PM

I think it's fine. Hair extensions and plastic surgery are common place. Who's to say that someone wouldn't look like this Barbie?

gerry 10-11-2009 @ 6:09PM

Maybe Michelle Obama should start setting a better example for young black girls buy ditching the wigs. Black hair does not move like hers does in the wind, or shine like hers either. Ditch the wigs.

cathryn 10-11-2009 @ 7:03PM

For hell sakes.. this is a freaking doll... its amazing how people take something innocent and blow it way out of proportion. There are more things in this country to worry about other than a black doll with straight hair! Thousands of households are wondering how they are going to put food on the table from day to day because of this recession.... get ur priorities in order...

Many african american women (my daughter included) straight iron their hair.... package a tiny straight iron with the doll!!!

William Smith 10-11-2009 @ 8:53PM

Then she wouldn't Barbie, don't they have enough Black Dolls now. This is a non-issue.

The Runt 10-12-2009 @ 10:27AM

I haven't yet seen anyone make the point that Caucasian girls often PERM their hair to make it MORE curly. Why is it so wrong for African Americans to straighten theirs? I can't think of a single female I've ever met, regardless of race, who liked their hair just as it is. In my opinion, it's just an issue of "the grass is always greener...."

Deb 10-12-2009 @ 10:35AM

Get a grip people...it's just a doll AND one that's been around for 5 decades. You can please some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time.

TEE 10-12-2009 @ 11:02AM

I have a black daughter with long straight hair., so what is the problem, no litttle girl wants to comb nappy hair. Some of yall perm your daughters hair so that it can be straight. There is to much going on in this world to be thinking about a doll. Who said you got to buy it.

me 10-12-2009 @ 11:20AM

Until adult black women embrace their natural hair, little girls won't either. Who do you think influences their self esteem more, the real black women (moms, aunts, celebrities) in their lives or a doll that's just hitting the market? Barbie's hair is no different than Beyonce's.

junie 10-12-2009 @ 11:26AM

It's a doll. Do hydrocephalics rally against the makers of Bratz dolls because their heads are so big? What ridiculous oversensitivity. I'm sick of it. If the dolls were given tight short curls in only dark colors, the makers would be critisized for being racists.

Brenda 10-12-2009 @ 12:31PM

This is a ridiculous idea. Black people have all kinds of hair, as do white people. Sit in an airport and watch people for a couple of hours and you'll see what I mean. Also, just as some black people spend lots of time and money trying to straighten their hair if it is super curly, just as many whites spend time and money to curl their hair into a so-called afro style. The only purpose of hair is to cover and protect the head; if it does that, then it is "good."

gewisn 10-12-2009 @ 1:17PM

You want your daughters to be proud of who they are, and you're buying Barbie products? Hair is not the problem.
Buy them dolls that all look very different, and then name them Madeline Albright, Madame Curie, Susan B Anthony, Harriet Tubman, Hillary Clinton, Janet Reno, Margaret Thatcher, Nora Ephron, Anne Frank, etc, etc. (please forgive me if I've spelled some incorrectly) Have a tea party between these amazing women, then have an adult play the part of Paris Hilton using a Barbie. Let your daughter see what an idiotic, shallow, selfish character this would be in comparison - until your daughter tells Barbie to, "Be quiet. The smart people are talking."

Rena 10-12-2009 @ 1:15PM

No kidding, Barbies structure is so incorrect for a human if a human were shaped in that way they'd fall on there face. (oh and have built on underwear, there goes our "Whoops pregnant" problems)

rondog 10-12-2009 @ 2:53PM

I remember when dolls were simply supposed to entertain our children. When did Barbie become the dominant role model? My daughters all play with dolls. Some cheap plastic ones, some more detailed. They have yet to favor any one over any other. Their stuffed animals get that favor and none of them have any consistent look to the animal they are supposed to be. THE KIDS DON"T CARE! How about YOU be the role model and stop fussing about the toys. That's lazy parenting. My favorite toys growing up was the He-Man characters. I had 5 different He-Man figures. I never go to the gym and my definition of a model man was never a muscle bound hulk. That's because I played with my toys; I didn't emulate them. My parents gave a crap enough about me to be my role model instead of leaving it up to Matel to invent one.

Adsumwolf 10-12-2009 @ 6:00PM

IT IS A TOY! A DOLL! Why are people always crying rasism, or what ever, what's next, the Mexican Barbie, how a bout an Asian one. Get a life people. If you don't like it, don't by it.

Ash 11-02-2009 @ 7:36PM

who cares if Barbie has big tits and a skinny waist? She is a doll! I grew up with Barbies my whole life and never felt insecure with my body because of Barbie's body because she is a doll. She becomes a role model however because Barbie can do anything from being a doctor to a flight attendant to a lifeguard or whatever.

Karen 10-09-2009 @ 6:18PM

This is a big step forward to have dolls that reflect such a wide range of beauty. The dolls represent a more black sense of beauty, but if beautiful black women mostly straighten their hair (Tyra, Oprah, Michelle), why would a black fashion doll have curls?

Personally I think these dolls are frickin' adorable.