Mattel’s first-ever autistic Barbie is facing a 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 wrist articulation to enable stimming, hand flapping, and other hand gestures that some members of the autistic community may use to ‘process sensory information or express excitement’.
Despite Mattel’s efforts, onlookers have taken to social media to express their upset with the doll, claiming it pushes ‘stereotypical traits’ associated with autism.
One wrote: ‘My niece has been diagnosed with autism. How thrilled she’ll be when she finds out she’s supposed to have “flappy hands”.
A second said: ‘Heard this on radio this morning along with two autistic teens. They were dumbfounded. Youngest annoyed that only stereotypical traits were used. My children have already had enough of being told they can’t be ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) as they don’t fit the general stereotype. This won’t help.’
‘Flappy hands? I’m sure autistic girls are going to be thrilled to know Barbie thinks this is who they all are,’ said another.
A fourth wrote: ‘Nothing like reinforcing stereotypes. I find this offensive as someone with many people on the autism spectrum in my family.’
Another added: ‘A new Barbie doll that’s described as autistic. In my view, I support genuine representation, but this misses the mark.
‘Autism can’t be summed up with a couple of props. Reducing it to noise-cancelling headphones and a fidget spinner risks reinforcing narrow stereotypes rather than challenging them.
‘Inclusion should be about listening to autistic people — not packaging us.’
The doll is designed with an eye gaze shifted slightly to the side to reflect how some autistic people may avoid direct eye contact.
As well as coming with noise-cancelling headphones and a tablet, the doll holds a pink finger clip fidget spinner that actually spins – offering a ‘sensory outlet that can help reduce stress and improve focus’.
The pink headphones are described as a helpful fashion accessory that reduces ‘sensory overload’ by blocking out background noise.
The pink tablet shows symbol-based AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) on its screen, serving as a tool to help with everyday interactions.
The doll is also said to wear a loose-fitting, pinstripe A-line dress with short sleeves and a flowy skirt that provides less fabric-to-skin contact.
Purple shoes complete the outfit, with flat soles to promote stability and ease of movement.
It follows the company’s gradual branching out from its classic blonde Barbie to models with type 1 diabetes, Down syndrome and blindness.
As part of the doll launch, Mattel said Barbie had teamed up with advocates for the autistic community, including Ellie Middleton – an autistic and ADHD author and creator who was diagnosed with both conditions aged 24.
Ms Middleton, who founded Unmasked and has an audience of over 300,000 people online, said: ‘To now have an autistic Barbie doll makes me so emotional.
‘Statistics show that young girls are often undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, so to have a powerful symbol like this autistic Barbie doll helps bring the conversation around neurodivergence in women to the forefront, so that autistic girls can feel accepted and seen.’
Colin Killick, Executive Director of ASAN, added: ‘As proud members of the autistic community, our ASAN team was thrilled to help create the first-ever autistic Barbie doll.
‘It is so important for young autistic people to see authentic, joyful representations of themselves, and that’s exactly what this doll is.
‘Partnering with Barbie allowed us to share insights and guidance throughout the design process to ensure the doll fully represents and celebrates the autistic community, including the tools that help us be independent.
‘We’re honored to see this milestone come to life, and we will keep pushing for more representation like this that supports our community in dreaming big and living proud.’
The autistic Barbie doll is now available from retailers at an RRP of £13.99.
Peter Watt, Managing Director of National Programmes at the National Autistic Society, said: ‘Seeing more depictions of autism is key to understanding and autism acceptance.
‘It’s really important that these representations are authentic and based on extensive consultation with autistic people, and we’re pleased Mattel involved the autistic community in the development of this doll.
‘Autism is a spectrum condition, and each autistic person has a unique combination of characteristics.
‘It’s important to remember autistic people can be very different to each other, with different sets of strengths and challenges.
‘It is positive to see authentic autistic representation on TV and films, the arts and in play, as better public understanding of autism across society could transform hundreds of thousands of autistic people’s lives.’
