Free Republic

Mattel's first-ever autistic Barbie is facing backlash from critics who claim the doll is offensive to people with neurodiversity and 'reinforces stereotypes'. The American toymaker said that the doll, which features a fidget spinner, noise-cancelling headphones, and a shifted eye gaze, was designed 'with guidance from the community' in a bid to 'change the narrative on neurodivergence'. The new doll, developed in partnership with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), aims to represent some of the ways autistic people may experience, process, and communicate about the world around them. Along with a new face sculpt, its features include elbow and...

The doll was expected to be available at Mattel's online shop and at Target stores starting Monday for a suggested retail price of $11.87.Mattel Inc. is introducing an autistic Barbie on Monday as the newest member of its line intended to celebrate diversity, joining a collection that already includes Barbies with Down syndrome, a blind Barbie, a Barbie and a Ken with vitiligo, and other models the toymaker added to make its fashion dolls more inclusive. Mattel said it developed the autistic doll over more than 18 months in partnership with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, a nonprofit organization that...

The corporate effort to indoctrinate children into believing they are born in the wrong body is reaching new heights under the Biden administration. Toymaker Mattel has partnered with transgender actor Laverne Cox to create its first transgender Barbie doll modeled after the Emmy Award-winning actor’s likeness. The symbol of body dysmorphia will be featured in Mattel’s “Tribute Collection Barbie” edition and retail for $39.99. Transgender Barbie will hit store shelves ahead of Cox’s 50th birthday in honor of his “impact as an advocate for LGTBQ rights,” People Magazine reports. Cox, famous for being the first non-white transgender woman to land...