If you’ve had your head in the sand this past week, you may have missed Mattel’s latest Barbie release: Autistic Barbie. Over the years, Mattel has expanded Barbie’s world to show she can do anything and be anything. But with every (many) evolution, controversy follows. Maybe that’s the point? Disruptive inclusion.
Remember these past examples?
- Oreo Fun Barbie – widely criticized as racist
- Computer Engineer Barbie – who handed all her tech challenges to a male colleague
- Pregnant Midge – Barbie’s expectant friend
- Becky – Barbie’s wheelchair-using friend who couldn’t access Barbie’s Dreamhouse
- Talking Barbie – infamous for sexist comments
- Fire-hazard Rollerblading Barbie
- Skipper – Barbie’s kid sister going through puberty
Well-intentioned attempts to inform and educate often spark backlash. So, is Autistic Barbie any different? And should Mattel stop trying?
Who’s complaining?
Many critics are ADHD/autistic individuals or advocates who find the doll and packaging offensive. One late-diagnosed autistic woman shared:
“I don’t know why they couldn’t just release an accessories pack for any Barbie. Autism doesn’t have one ‘look.’ It’s a spectrum, and I don’t see myself in this at all.”
These criticisms highlight the diversity of ADHD/autism experiences. And isn’t that the point? You cannot capture the vast range of autistic traits in one doll. What Mattel has done is provide tools for Barbie to navigate her career—through an inclusive lens.
Creating autistic Barbie
The doll has been welcomed by many. Designed with input from neurodivergent children, it’s not just a doll for them—it’s a step toward representation. One mum shared how her daughter, Penelope, felt seen.
Mattel says inclusive play “can help children better understand the world around them by encouraging doll play outside of their own lived experience.” Research from Cardiff University supports this, showing doll play may foster empathy and social connection in all children, including autistic kids.
The criticism
Others argue the doll focuses on “palatable” autistic traits, reinforcing stereotypes and suggesting there’s one way to “look autistic.” Common concerns include:
- Using neurodiversity as a marketing strategy
- Oversimplifying autism
- Forgetting that autism isn’t about appearance—it’s about identity
Dr Zaheer Ahmad MBE counters:
“The launch of the first autistic Barbie isn’t just about a new doll; it’s about visibility, representation, and belonging. It matters for non-autistic children too. Representation builds empathy early. It normalises difference. It helps create a generation that understands inclusion not as a concept, but as a lived reality.”
Is it a good thing?
For me, the launch—and the hubris surrounding Autistic Barbie—matters. Mattel has used its platform, brand, and corporate power to catalyse a conversation. They’ve given space for critics to illustrate how deeply personal and varied the autistic experience is.
AI-generated ADHD-me images have brilliantly shown the many sides of ADHDers and autistic people.
So, three cheers to Mattel and all those—like the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN)—who shaped this doll and its accessories.
This moves us from debate about diversity into discussion and dialogue. That’s where understanding and appreciation grow—and where cultures can evolve so everyone can thrive.
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Further reading (internal links):
- CliftonStrength Focus and its blindspots
- Blind spots with Analytical
- The Dark Side of Harmony
Some further reading
- Focus and its Blindspots
A great companion piece to Harmony, especially when discussing tunnel vision and conflict avoidance.
➤ Read the blog [katalytik.co.uk] - Communication – Strength or Weakness?
Ideal for discussing how Harmony interacts with communication styles.
➤ Read about Communication [katalytik.co.uk]
Find out more about how Focus can be a powerful leadership attribute.
