'Autistic Barbie': Representative, or insensitive?

Kay Morgan-Gurr  |  Comment
Date posted:  21 Jan 2026
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'Autistic Barbie': Representative, or insensitive?

Barbie Fashionistas Doll #245 in Purple Striped Dress, Autistic Barbie With Accessories. Image: Mattel (shopping.mattel.com)

Mattel has created an "Autistic Barbie."

The doll was launched on 11 January, but is already receiving very polarised reviews.

To quote Mattel’s website announcement, the doll has very specific features: “Body: The autistic Barbie doll features elbow and wrist articulation, enabling stimming, hand flapping, and other hand gestures that some members of the autistic community use to process sensory information or express excitement.

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