WASHINGTON – One of the newest Barbie dolls on the market is raising eyebrows.
Mexico Barbie, decked out in her bright pink dress, comes with a passport, pet Chihuahua and a sheet documenting her travels.
Here’s how Mattel describes the doll on its website:
“This gorgeous Mexico Barbie doll is dressed for a fabulous fiesta in her vibrant pink dress with ruffles, lace, and brightly colored ribbon accents. She tops off her traditional look with a long, wavy hairstyle decorated with a pretty purple bow.”
Critics tell ABC News the south-of-the- border Barbie resorts to stereotypes and oversimplifies the Mexican culture.
The doll is part of Mattel’s Dolls of the World collection. The collection includes dolls from Chile, Holland, Spain, India, China and Australia.
The doll from India, for example, is dressed in traditional Indian garb and comes with a pet monkey on her arm.
The China doll wears a red silk “asian-inspired” gown, Mattell says, and carries a “panda friend.”
The Barbie from Chile wears is “ready to round ’em up as a huaso (Chilean cowboy” states Mattell, and comes complete with a terrier dog.
Some have questioned the passport with the Mexico doll, but, in response to criticism, Mattel tweeted that the doll isn’t the only one with a passport:
Asian-inspired gown of red “silk” embroidered with flowers and leaves in gold and black with touches of orange, pink and blue. Her shoes are traditional geta, her jewelry (golden bangle bracelets and red “jewel” drop earrings) is timeless and her hair evokes drama.
“Our goal with the Dolls of the World Mexico Barbie, as well as the entire Dolls of the World Collection, is to celebrate cultural differences and tradition, introducing girls to the world through play,” said Mattel spokeswoman Stefani Yocky, in an ABC News story.
The dolls sell for $29.95 each.
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