Barbie Dolls with Wheelchair and Prosthetic Leg

American toy maker Mattel’s Barbie brand of dolls requires no introduction. These beautiful dolls are popular among kids all over the world. It is estimated that Mattel has sold over a billion Barbies so far! These dolls have a massive impact on kids’ development as they grow playing with them. Clothes, body type and skin color etc. of Barbie dolls have always been under world’s microscope. Mattel has been responding to the calls for making these dolls more inclusive and representative of varied cultures around the world. In efforts to make Barbie more inclusive, and to represent people with disabilities, Mattel has a wheelchair user Barbie and a Barbie with a prosthetic leg. Moreover, now Barbie comes in various body types and skin colors. This is certainly a welcome step by the company as now kids can also learn about diversity and inclusion in the society from these toys.

Wheelchair Barbie

The Barbie® Fashionistas® line has dolls that come with a wheelchair and a ramp. These dolls are of 6 body types, 9 skin colors, 6 eye colors, 11 hair colors and 10 hairstyles. Wheels of the wheelchair do roll and brakes can also be applied. The doll has 22 joints in the body which allow kids to make the doll sit and maneuver in the wheelchair.

Wheelchair Becky dolls in 1997

Mettle had released three wheelchair Becky dolls in 1997. “Becky” was introduced as the “friend of Barbie”. Becky was in wheelchair and came in three avatars: Share a Smile Becky, School Photographer Becky and Paralympic Champion Becky. These dolls were very popular but Mettle discontinued them pretty soon.

New Barbies with Wheelchair

Then, 20 years later, Mettle launched two wheelchair Barbies again in 2019 as part of the Fashionistas® line. Unfortunately, other dolls of this line can not be made to sit in the wheelchair as their knees do not bend. Wheelchair Barbies dolls are specially designed with joints in knees, ankle, hips, elbows, wrist and shoulders.

Barbie with Prosthetic Leg

To add more diversity and inclusivity in their dolls, Mettle also introduced Barbie with amputation. This Barbie doll wears a prosthesis in place of a leg. The prosthetic leg can be easily removed and refitted by the kids.

Barbie with Vitiligo

In 2020, Mettle released a Barbie doll which has vitiligo – a condition in which the skin loses its pigment cells. As a result of vitiligo, lighter color patches appear on skin.

“A prototype of the vitiligo toy, which debuted on the Barbie Instagram page last year, became its most “liked” post ever”, Mattel said in a statement.

WeCapable appreciates the fact that Mettle has been putting in efforts to make their dolls more diverse. They have introduced, curvy Barbie, hairless Barbie, black Barbies and costumes to represent various cultures.