05/14/2026
🦄 In 2024, Mattel released a “Art Therapy Barbie”. At an Art Therapy conference in Pittsburgh that same year, Delaine was very reluctantly persuaded to take a picture as Art Therapy Barbie.
What is your initial thought when you think of Barbie? I think many view the dolls as controversial. A symbol of unrealistic body standards, gender essentialism, and of course the narrow “white & blonde” aesthetic. Mattel has heavily rebranded and is focusing on inclusivity, breaking stereotypes and diversity.
Understandably, many still have a bad taste in their mouth from the “Classic Barbie”. Something I find fascinating is that when given a Barbie doll, you decide who they will be. Even if you despise what Barbie represents, most little kids created their own version, almost in protest of “Classic Barbie”.
Cutting or coloring their hair, war paint, drenching them in mud, or just straight up destroying them, really whatever felt right. Which funny enough, could be seen as a form of art therapy. It provided a creative outlet for self-expression, trauma processing, and emotional release.
Although initially it represented something you didn’t identity with, I think it’s beautiful most kids customized them in their own way.
If you were given a “Barbie” or doll as a kiddo, did you play with them as is, or did you customize them? I personally had many Barbies and can confirm they went through many changes. -Ayla