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The Votes Are In: Barbie Will Be a ... Computer Engineer!
Filed under: In The News, Toys
Barbie thinks computers are cool. Especially when they're pink. Credit: Mattel
Barbie is trading her pom poms for laptop.
After Barbie asked the world to help her choose her 125th career, the votes are in. She's now pursuing a career as a computer engineer!
Barbie designers worked with the Society of Women Engineers and the National Academy of Engineering to create Computer Engineer Barbie's wardrobe and accessories.
According to a Mattel press release, Computer Engineer Barbie will be rocking a "geek chic" look with a binary code-patterned tee and accessories like a smart phone, Bluetooth headset and laptop travel bag.
"As a computer engineer, Barbie will show girls that women can turn their ideas into realities that have a direct and positive impact on people's everyday lives in this exciting and rewarding career," Nora Lin, President, Society of Women Engineers, said in a Barbie press release.
We've always thought that women could do anything they wanted, and we're glad Barbie has caught up. What took her so long? Maybe associating computer engineers and the term "geek" has something to do with it.
But, now that she's embraced her inner geek, we wonder if Barbie will ditch her cute nickname and finally embrace her real moniker: Barbara Millicent Roberts.
Related: Kristen Wiig's a Barbie Girl, in a Barbie World and Urlesque Welcomes Barbie to Her New Job
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The large takeout box package (including child-friendly chopsticks) makes this Chinese Cookbook kit full of delicious and healthy Chinese recipes the perfect gift for a little chef. $28, Handstand Kids.
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UV Skinz
UV Skinz sun protective swimshirts carry a UPF rating of 50+, which blocks out over 98 percent of the sun's harmful rays, protecting your children's delicate skin from those damaging rays. And better yet, the designs are definitely cool enough to rule out any arguments before beach time. $31, UV Skinz.
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
2-12-2010 @ 12:56PM
Rabbitlazy said...I find the idea of calling computer barbie a nerd, is what gives little kids these bad ideas and the reason why they tease. I think its a great idea that they are finally expanding barbies horizons and teaching little girls its not all about cheerleading and making babies.
Reply
2-12-2010 @ 1:19PM
EJ said...YES!! Thank you. I read that and said why does she have to be a "geek" to take a career in Computer Engineering. If that's the case, then we all are geeks and I respect the geeks that have taken Computer Engineering to make my life a little bit easier.
2-12-2010 @ 2:02PM
Allronix said...Most folks in the IT department will take "nerd" as a compliment. We may have been called that as an insult growing up...but when we're making more money than the folks who teased us?
2-12-2010 @ 12:56PM
steve said...What a waste of time.
Reply
2-12-2010 @ 2:28PM
Reality said...Just wait 'til Barbie's new computer engineering job gets offshored. Back to the pom poms.
Reply
2-12-2010 @ 2:02PM
t said...put her back in a bikini and the kitchen where she belongs
Reply
2-12-2010 @ 2:59PM
lindsey said...doesn't anyone miss the old barbie? i know i do.. the ones wher eyou could go to toys r us and buy a huge pack of floral dresses and heels. barbies always wore floral dresses and heels.. and pink. why does everything have to become modern
Reply
2-12-2010 @ 3:05PM
christine said...There's actually two groups of women in computing: the pink girls and the geek girls. They manage an uneasy truce (or don't) in CS departments everywhere.
The pink ones think the geek stereotype is what's driving girls away from computing, they wear perfect makeup and stylish clothes, and they think making computing more girly will help recruit young women. And, it probably will... but the women it recruits will be more pink girls.
Meanwhile, the geek girls run around in t-shirts and jeans, wear make-up only for special occasions, own no more than three pairs of shoes, were just as hooked on computer games as the boys when they were kids (although maybe mostly on Dr. Mario), had junior high crushes on Han Solo and Aragorn (when you had to *read* LotR) rather than boy bands. We are totally forgotten by marketers everywhere.
The geek girls are overjoyed to hear the term "geek girl" (because, yay, we exist!), we hate girly things, and we were recruited to computer science because we managed to get some exposure to real programming and genuinely thought it was fun. To recruit more of us, you just need to get more programming classes into public schools.
Needless to say, in high school the pink girls made the geeks girls lives hell. But, we're all grown up now and there's the uneasy truce. The Barbie seems like a result of this... there's the pink laptop, and the leggings... but there's also the glasses and the binary on the shirt. "Geek Chic" is something I can live with.
Reply
2-12-2010 @ 3:46PM
Mihir said..."geek" used to be a 4 letter word. now, it's a 6 figure one.
Reply