She’s been an astronaut, a doctor and a rock star – now Barbie’s diverse resume is about to get it’s latest update.
On Friday February 12th, Mattel will announce which job the doll’s young fans have decided she will do next. Luckily, the little girls (and boys) aren’t being given free reign to decide how she’ll spend her 9-5. They’re being asked to vote online from a list.
The list is pretty impressive – she might be a computer engineer, environmentalist, surgeon, news anchor or an architect. Amazing to imagine the accessories which might go along with each of these roles. I can just about imagine a teeny pink plastic lap top – but what on earth could the pink princess tote around to symbolize her work with green causes? Plus, I am not sure of her environmental credentials thus far – she is made of plastic after all. (She does however ride a horse some times, so perhaps her carbon footprint is less than you might suppose).
There’s been lots of chat about this topic on various blogs and gentle lobbying from techies who’d like to see her ‘become more geeky’ and earth mothers who’d like her to save the planet. There are plenty of industries where women are under represented – engineering, construction and CEOs of top companies to name but three. I’m sure they’d all welcome a new recruit into their folds. I am pretty sure I’ve seen Barbie in a lab coat, but wouldn’t she suit a hard hat and overalls? Her perfect fingers could be molded into a wolf whistle shape too – to turn the tables on the traditional leery builders. You could pull a cord in her back and ‘woo woo’ .. she could make a whistling sound! I’m getting carried away now.
I’m sure Mattel is being noble in their quest to inspire Barbie fans to greater career choices, but I wonder how many under-10s would actually want to play with Architect Barbie? Despite these reservations, I can’t wait to find out what she’ll do next . I am also glad that she can still find a job in these tough times.
photo Mattel web site
