Alopecia World
Where acceptance is all there is!
New “bald” friend of Barbie causes controversy
U.S. toymaker Mattel created a “bald” friend of Barbie doll named Ella and donated a limited quantity of the dolls to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF).
However, the bald doll has created some controversy in the alopecia community because Ella is packaged with a wig on.
Some feel that it is not a real representation of a person with alopecia and would have preferred that the doll was packaged bald with perhaps a wig included as a fashion accessory.
NAAF states it was not involved in the development or packaging of the Ella doll and that Mattel made the determination that Ella would be wearing her wig in the packaging.
What do you think of Mattel’s decision?
NAAF is making its supply of the Ella dolls available on a first-come first-served basis to children with alopecia ages 3-17. You can apply at www.naaf.org, as Ella is not available in stores.
Comment
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Comment by LilyBell*Murphy'sLawLuvsMe on February 6, 2013 at 5:22pm
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Hmmmm i was just thinking that the parents of those children that were killed in Sandy Hook would not care in the least if there were dolls with hair or no hair, if the wigs were in place or on the side, if they were made just for kids with alopecia of to be shared with kids who had cancer - they would just be happy to have kids- sometimes - in my opinion, all of this stuff gets all out of wack - the very fact that you have a child to love, to hug, to kiss goodnight, to worry about, well thank God for that and maybe worry a little less about the packaging of a doll
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Comment by Katie B on February 6, 2013 at 5:11pm
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Margaret - I was just thinking the same thing about kids and packaging as I was reading down the comments and then spotted yours lol
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Comment by Margaret Brennan on February 6, 2013 at 4:31pm
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So I did it. I emailed Mattel. I had to fill in a purchase date but when I wrote my message I told them I would purchase one if they were available for purchase and encouraged them to sell them in stores. So done my good deed for the day. How about you???
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Comment by Debbi Fuller on February 6, 2013 at 4:07pm
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We had Bratz dolls at the convention last year. They were a HUGE hit with the kids. They make them for boys, girls and they come in all the colors people come in!
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As I said before I would go on line and find the contact info from Mattel and fire them off an email complaining about not being able to purchase one. I will have to look and see what a Bratz doll looks like. I am out of the doll era other than baby dolls for the grandbabies.
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Comment by Dena on February 6, 2013 at 3:38pm
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Margaret..After commenting last night, I showed the picture of the doll to my daughter who is 6 this morning and told her that Barbie had made a doll for kids with Alopecia. Her first reaction was this Barbie has hair. I explained that it came off and she said that she didn't think most people would realize that from looking at the doll in the package. She did say it would be fun to play with the doll with wigs, but she said it would be the same as changing outfits on her dolls. But in her opinion she like her Bratz doll better because it looked more like her. She said the new Barbie was pretty, but it really looked like all the rest of the Barbies once you put the wig on except it isn't blonde. I am sure she will enjoy playing with the doll, but I don't think she will think of it as a representation of herself. I still bothered by the fact you aren't able to buy this doll. Even if it was only online. Alopecia affects the whole family and I would think kids who have parents with Alopecia might like the opportunity to buy one. Hopefully Mattel will eventually decide to market them, even if it is online.
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I was also sitting here reading and thinking. We are adults commenting on our preferences but I will bet you kids could care less about the packaging. They just want to rip it open and get their hands on it to play with. We have to get our adult thinking out of the process and just see that the kids get one if they would like one. A toy like this helps to normalize baldness. Just like my granddaughter learning that grandma's hair is not StUCK hair but comes off or Unstuck hair as she calls it. Wonderful the mind of a three year old. Once she gets use to it she will consider me different from her but normal for me.
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Comment by Rosanna on February 6, 2013 at 1:56pm
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I'm not offended by the packaging of this doll just like I don't think it's offensive, wrong, or misleading by the fact I wear wigs. Instead, I feel encouraged that Mattel was open to manufacturing a bald doll. I believe if there is demand for this doll, Mattel will take it to the next step - offering it for sale in stores.
I think this "controversy" merely highlights what self-acceptance means for each individual with alopecia. For some, self-acceptance means proudly going out bald; for others it means proudly wearing wigs. There is no right way of being here. All that matters is that you love yourself with or without hair. So for me, Ella wearing a wig doesn't mean anything more than she's wearing a wig.
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Thanks Debbi, miss you.
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Good idea Margaret - I think so too.
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