An Autistic Barbie

Aeson · 2026-01-16T11:16:57+0000

I thought I would share this in case someone was interested. Representation is important. It makes folks feel included.

Kaodi · 2026-01-16T12:21:59+0000

When I first heard about this it sounded weird to me. It still kinda does. But it makes more sense I think when you stop thinking about Barbie dolls as just dolls and instead as storylines. Autistic Barbie is autistic in the same way that Ken is Barbie's boyfriend and not her brother. There is nothing inherent to the doll about that distinction, but it is true anyway.

Umbran · 2026-01-16T14:12:57+0000

Kaodi said:
There is nothing inherent to the doll about that distinction, but it is true anyway.

Well, they didn't take a standard Barbie, and just slap the word "autistic" on the box. There are some design bits on this Barbie that are to support the distinction.

She is holding a fidget spinner, for one (admittedly small) thing.
For another, she has articulated wrists and elbows, that other Barbies don't have, to enable stimming motions during play.

trappedslider · 2026-01-16T14:49:27+0000

Umbran said:
Well, they didn't take a standard Barbie, and just slap the word "autistic" on the box. There are some design bits on this Barbie that are to support the distinction.

She is holding a fidget spinner, for one (admittedly small) thing.
For another, she has articulated wrists and elbows, that other Barbies don't have, to enable stimming motions during play.

It goes even into how they did her eyes compared to a normal barbie

An Autistic Barbie

Aeson

Up, up, and away.

Kaodi

Legend

Umbran

Mod Squad

trappedslider

Legend

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