Comment by Nani on February 7, 2013 at 11:27am

I think many are viewing this from a view point of adults. Like you I have AA and I can see your points. On the other hand I have also worked with cancer patients, even children. When the Barbie Ella movement began the kids in onc were so excited. All wondering if the dolls would have wigs like them and if they would be pretty and fun. Also, these are available to hospitals and organizations all over the world. Many believe that by mainstreaming them in stores retracts from their value to the people they go to. Little girls. They are free to them from many different avenues. My clinic has forms for them too and shared them with the local pediatric clinics so they could catch those kids as well.

Basically I don't think the kids are going to care as much as you do if Ella comes with a wig or its already on her head. They are just happy to have a doll that represents them.

Comment by baldisnotbeautiful on February 8, 2013 at 10:27am

I can't stand Barbie dolls! When I was a kid my microscope was the best entertainment ever!

Comment by Margaret Brennan on February 8, 2013 at 1:01pm

here is the response I received from Mattel today:

Thank you for taking the time to share your story with us.

We are exclusively donating the Ella, Friend of Barbie dolls to children's hospitals and other hospitals treating children with cancer and hair loss throughout the U.S. and Canada. The doll was created with the intent to inspire girls dealing with hair loss and thus we have opted to not sell the dolls through any retail outlet.

Mattel has partnered with the Children's Hospital Association, with whom we have had a long standing relationship, as well as hospitals in the CureSearch for Children's Cancer network to reach additional children's cancer facilities. A donation of the dolls has also been made to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation. We are trusting in these esteemed organizations to distribute these special dolls directly into the hands of children immediately affected and are unable to fulfill individual requests. We're sorry for any disappointment this may cause your family.

For more information on the hospitals in your area associated with these organizations we suggest you visit the organizations websites listed below.

Children's Hospital Association: http://www.childrenshospitals.org/
Cure Search for Children's Cancer: http://www.curesearch.org/
National Alopecia Areata Foundation: http://www.naaf.org/site/PageServer?pagename=BarbiesBaldFriend

Alicia D.
Mattel Consumer Relations

Comment by TallGuy on February 8, 2013 at 1:29pm

Wanted to add one thought...

If you get the chance - head over to google and do an image search for "beauty"...

This is the message kids pick up on, from the time they are really small.

Growing up different from your enviromental norm is rough, but it doesn't have to suck.

Learning from a young age it's "normal" to be different, to accept different, to celebrate different however it's presented is a positive step in accepting yourself.

This toy isn't some magic bullet, regardless who it's targeted at, how it's packaged, or how they get it... but if it helps parents teach their kids, or kids adjust to whats going to be their reality for a long long time.... shoot, I'm glad they put it out there.

Comment by Sarah on February 11, 2013 at 3:03pm

I believe that the barbie should have been packages without the wig on and had the wig as an accessory. Although a lot of bald people chose to wear wigs I think it would have been a more positive message for the doll to be seen and bought as bald, we are against the grain as bald, I'm tired of doctors telling me the best thing I can do for my self esteem is to wear a wig when the best thing I can do for myself is learn to accept who I am as I am and for society to see us as the beautiful people we still are. I'm tired of having to wear wigs to get a job and to be seen as professional as to my "extreme bald look" that does not see to have a place in the working world. This doll can be a step in the right direction but the doll should be bald when sold so the wig is more of an option and not a necessity to the doll.

Comment by Larry Barbee on February 12, 2013 at 11:26pm

I don't think much of the message Mattel is sending with how the doll is being packaged.
Since it's being marketed to a very select and limited market, why have the doll looking like their regular line of dolls?

They seem to be saying that baldness is something to hide and/or shameful. If I was female and old enough to understand ads and marketing, I don't think getting one of these dolls would make me feel better about being normal and ok in this society.

What also makes me feel like Mattel is sending mixed messages is by it's packaging, collectors will find it hard to find. I don't know much about dolls and doll collecting, but I do know Barbie is a highly collectable item. A lot of females who don't have a hair loss issue are going to own some of these dolls.

When Mattel produces new figures in their G.I. Joe series, there are stickers stating this "Joe" is a "limited edition" or a "30th Anniversary" on the box to bloat the sales on that action figure. They even include special documentation.

It's too bad that Mattel is not marketing their bald Barbie to mainstream markets. They may not sell as well as the other Barbies, but slap "limited edition" on the box and they will sell.

God bless,

Larry

Comment by Cheryl, Co-founder on February 15, 2013 at 10:09pm

Here's a WTHR 13 news report that just came out:

13 WTHR Indianapolis

Comment by Dominique Cleopatra on February 16, 2013 at 1:47am

Thanks for sharing, Cheryl! It Looks like Alopecia World made the news. While I didn't think the packaging was a big deal, I'm glad that my fellow alopecians who were offended have a voice and are proving to be a force to be reckoned with!

Comment by Margaret Brennan on February 16, 2013 at 10:57am

wow, that is a great news piece. Good job. I wonder how many Mattel folks are at home kicking themselves for missing the mark on this "great" idea of theirs... tee hee. love media and the internet for making things get out there.

Let's see how long it takes for them to reverse if this chatter keeps up.
I want to be able to buy one for my granddaughters so they can have a doll with hair like grandma's - the unstuck kind.

Comment by Cheryl, Co-founder on February 18, 2013 at 7:55pm

Margaret, you should post the email address that you sent your email to, in case others wish to send one as well. Thanks!

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