Barbie Going Bald for Cancer

I remember being a young child playing Barbie dolls with my sister in our basement in Upstate New York. From Barbie’s giant townhouse with its yellow elevator to her clothes, accessories and hairdos, those moments became staples in my childhood memories. How much Barbie herself affected me as a person, I’m unsure of (partly because I preferred He-Man and Cabbage Patch Kids®); but nonetheless, Barbie played a role in my childhood, as she has for many young girls who identify or attempt to identify with her. However, this is difficult for school-aged girls that have suffered hair loss due to cancer and chemotherapy. Because of this, an online petition via Facebook and Change.org fought for the creation of a bald Barbie, stating “losing hair is a hard thing to deal with, especially for little girls."

Now, after months of petitioning, Toymaker giant Mattel is creating a bald Barbie with plans to distribute the new doll to hospitals and charities in 2013. According to Change.org’s victory post on March 28, 2012, “Mattel reports  this will be ‘a fashion doll, that will be a friend of Barbie, which will include wigs, hats, scarves and other fashion accessories to provide girls with a traditional fashion play experience.’"

The Star reported Mattel has a policy about unsolicited product ideas and it didn’t decide to create the new doll because of the Facebook group and online petition, “but they helped us realize how important this was for us to do," said spokesperson Alan Hilowitz.

No matter, other toymakers are hopping on the bandwagon, too, including MGA Entertainment, maker of Bratz and Moxie Girlz.

I think petitions like this create a great opportunity for the beauty industry to get involved and help support a good thing. These young girls are struggling with their self-image; and how better to support their struggle than by becoming an advocate for beauty of all kinds?