Comment by De-nise on February 6, 2013 at 10:17am

In my opinion the doll should be packaged without the wig on, too. I think the idea of the wig is good, but this doll is for children, to help them see themselves as beautilful without hair. That's what the movement said and what i agree with. Sure some alopecians or cancer-patients wear a wig too, but we aren't representating alopecia for the whole world, we are representating ourselves.
The doll has a function, wich is awsome, and mattel destoyed it mostly and in my opinion they just did this because of the consumers. Even if it's sad: The normal Barbie HAS hair, and is sold very good, better than a bald one would. Thats what Mattel thinks.
Poor world.

Comment by TallGuy on February 6, 2013 at 10:19am

I thought the wig on was actually the right move... we are dealing with kids brains here. You need to start with their definition of normal and walk them through different slowly and explain...take the wig off and demonstrate the difference, and that it's ok. If they just come accross a bad doll in box...most won't get it.

Comment by Debbi Fuller on February 6, 2013 at 11:11am

Wig on, wig off is a choice for people. I do both. I think that if the doll had been packaged without the wig on, it would have been a positive thing for children with no hair. It would have made them feel more 'normal' if there is such a thing. I love my vaccum hair pieces but I am not a slave to them. If I feel like going without hair, I do. I garden without hair, I don't wear hair in chlorine pools - not because I can't but because I'd rather not bother to have to redo my style or bleach out my color. I think of hair as a 'fashion accessory' and I think it is healthy to be able to do either - if that's what you want to do! Since we can't change the way the doll is packaged, let's just explain to kids that they can do whatever makes them feel good. It is their choice and neither choice is wrong.

Comment by Margaret Brennan on February 6, 2013 at 11:35am

I would have enjoyed having one of these in my childhood but of course there was no Barbie back then. I actually would buy one for my granddaughters so they could play with something with non-stuck on hair. I don't really care how they packaged it but if it makes some kids with cancer or alopecia happy then good for them. I was never a lover of Barbie but I think they should market it. There are thousands of kids going through Chemo all over the world who might like having a bald doll. When Cabbage Patch came out with a bald doll so many of the little kids with alopecia and cancer wanted them. They would sell. So I say parents and grandparents who would like to see these marketed write to Matell now and ask them to put them in stores.

Comment by Debbi Fuller on February 6, 2013 at 11:54am

Good idea Margaret - I think so too.

Comment by Margaret Brennan on February 6, 2013 at 1:00pm

Thanks Debbi, miss you.

Comment by Rosanna on February 6, 2013 at 1:56pm

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.

Comment by Margaret Brennan on February 6, 2013 at 2:53pm

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.

Comment by Dena on February 6, 2013 at 3:38pm

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.

Comment by Margaret Brennan on February 6, 2013 at 3:52pm

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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