Bumblebee

  • NewsDanielle Boudreau

    Forget Barbie, can a ‘girl power’ focus bring girls back to Mattel?

    My three-year-old daughter is a little young for Barbie, and I’m happy to shield her from the adult-shaped doll for as long as I can, even though I enjoyed playing with the dolls as a child. Barbie, Mattel’s iconic toy since 1959 when she was unveiled at the New York Toy Fair, has gotten a bad rap over the years. With Barbie’s focus on everything pink and frilly, and the infamous “Math class is tough!” doll, the critics might have a point, despite an effort to broaden her career prospects.