It's been the summer of Barbie and of the Women's World Cup, so it seems fitting that the newest collection of dolls honours women in sport.
This year's edition of the Career of the Year collection features General Manager Barbie in a pinstripe suit and carrying a phone and ID badge, and Coach Barbie in pink, complete with megaphone and clipboard.
Also included are Referee Barbie, with a headset, flag, and whistle, and (what we love at Her Sport) Sports Reporter Barbie, carrying a notebook and microphone.
The hope is that the collection will encourage young girls about the many possible careers in sports. It comes as part of Mattel's continuing effort to make Barbie more positive and representative of diverse women (for example releasing the first Barbie with Down syndrome earlier this year) after years of criticism that it promoted unrealistic beauty standards. The Women in Sports dolls have varied body shape, skin tone, and features.
"This year, knowing that women are severely underrepresented in the sports industry — from positions on the field to leadership in the locker room — Barbie is proud to produce the Women in Sports line up as the 2023 Career of the Year," Mattel said in a press release.
"This collection will help pave the way for a future where women's voices and talent are acknowledged and commemorated in the realm of sports and beyond. It's crucial to show girls, not just tell them, the opportunities that exist for them in the sports industry — a cause that everyone can cheer on, no matter what sport they play or what team they root for."
Mattel is also partnering with Voice in Sport, an advocacy organisation for girls in sport, and Dr. Jen Welter, the first woman to coach in the American National Football League, who will be part of a mentoring session for girls about making a career in sport.
