The importance of having a trans Barbie for LGBTQIA+ representation

Barbie is the most famous doll of all time and is part of the childhood of children all over the world. Launched in March 1959, initially, the skinny, blonde, blue-eyed, preppy-style doll was built to be a global symbol, icon of beauty and connection to the fashion world.

The main objective of Mattel, the maker of the doll, was for children to identify with the toy, but it lacked diversity and representation. Then, in 1980, the first black Barbie was created, signed by designer Kitty Black Perkins.

But only in 2016 with the Fashionistas line, the multimillion-dollar company generated a reflection on beauty standards and diversity, creating dolls with different body types, eye colors and hairstyles. In addition to also including in this line, PCD dolls, without hair and with vitiligo.

However, Mattel understood the relevance of having an LGTBQIA+ doll, as the community constantly fights for visibility and respect, and representation is fundamental to combating LGBTphobia. Thus, actress Laverne Cox was the great inspiration to create the first transgender Barbie in history.

Laverne Cox’s Importance to the LGBTQIA+ Movement

Born in Alabama, United States, actress Laverne Cox is a trans icon and LGBTQIA+ rights activist. The artist made history in 2014, being the first transgender woman nominated for the Emmy Awards. The nomination was due to his performance in the series Orange Is The New Blackfrom Netflix.

Furthermore, she was the first transgender person to be on the cover of the magazine. Team and to have a statue in the Madame Tussauds museum. In interviews, the actress always comments on her trajectory and is proud to be a survivor of prejudice, not only for being black, but for being a trans woman.

Her story of courage inspires people, and having such a famous doll that represents her is extremely important to insert more and more LGBTQIA+ in society and reinforce the idea that these people can be what they want and be where they want.

Laverne always brings messages of support and encouragement on her social media: “I want young LGBTQI+ youth who are being victims of violence or bullying to know that they are valuable, beautiful and special,” he wrote on his Instagram.

On the launch of the doll, the actress was proud to be the first trans woman to inspire Barbie and is looking forward to fans having an item of a trans person in their collection.

Is trans Barbie for sale in Brazil?

Despite the important tribute to actress Laverne Cox, the launch of transgender Barbie generated controversy in Brazil. Federal deputy Otoni de Paula (MDB-RJ) opened an application requesting a public hearing to discuss the launch of the doll. According to him, “there are psychosocial implications in children” and that this would “confuse children about the nature of male-female genders”.

In a conversation with Dicas de Mulher, Eliane Maio, a professor at the State University of Maringá (UEM) and coordinator of the Center for Studies and Research in Sexual Diversity and Gender (NUDISEX), reported that there was no scientific study to prove the deputy’s claim.

For her, “Addressing gender and sexuality issues, especially in schools, allows children and adolescents to understand the different forms of gender identity and orientation that exist”. This provides “knowledge aimed at respect, ethics and justice in the treatment of any person”, she explains.

Therefore, the teacher believes that “having toys about the various forms of gender identity allows children to learn and learn more about what is taught to them”.

Maria Gabriela Brandino, lawyer and Municipal Councilor for Culture, informs that “Mattel demonstrates that it understands the importance of this beautiful tribute to actress Laverne Cox. So, the first Barbie to represent a woman engaged in collective struggle, with the deconstruction of paradigms and survives daily within a doubly cruel statistic, is to allow our children to (re)know violently silenced narratives”.