David Baxter PhD
Late Founder
Bald Barbie idea gets Facebook support
CBC News
Jan 12, 2012
Hairless doll would support children undergoing cancer treatments
An online movement to develop a bald Barbie in support of children with cancer has been launched.
A Facebook page titled "Beautiful and Bald Barbie! Let's see if we can get it made" was started a few days before Christmas. By Wednesday afternoon, the page had more than 16,000 fans. The goal is to get toy maker Mattel Inc. to create a bald Barbie in support of children with cancer.
Friends Rebecca Sypin and Jane Bingham, who live on opposite coasts but have both been affected by the disease, hatched the idea to use Barbie for the movement because she's such a popular children's toy.
Bingham has lost her hair due to chemotherapy treatments to treat lymphoma. Sypin's 12-year-old daughter, Kin Inich, also lost her hair this year in her own battle with leukemia.
Mattel didn't return calls on Wednesday seeking comment, but the women said they have contacted the company through some general form letters. In return, they said, they've received form letters that say Mattel doesn't accept ideas from outside sources.
The women say a bald Barbie would provide a huge platform to raise awareness for children with cancer.
Barbie, all 11.5 inches of her, is one of the best-known toys of all time. She can sell for $10 US at Wal-Mart or $7,000 US on eBay.
But Barbie has also been dissed for not being as socially responsible as she could be. She's best known for her curves, which long have sparked complaints by women's groups that say she imposes an unachievable physical standard on young girls. She also was lambasted when a talking version uttered an exclamation about math class being hard.
"We're not demanding that the company do anything," Sypin said Wednesday. "We're just hoping somebody sees this and can help us make it happen."
Hasbro Inc., the maker of G.I. Joe, didn't immediately return a call for comment.
CBC News
Jan 12, 2012
Hairless doll would support children undergoing cancer treatments
An online movement to develop a bald Barbie in support of children with cancer has been launched.
A Facebook page titled "Beautiful and Bald Barbie! Let's see if we can get it made" was started a few days before Christmas. By Wednesday afternoon, the page had more than 16,000 fans. The goal is to get toy maker Mattel Inc. to create a bald Barbie in support of children with cancer.
Friends Rebecca Sypin and Jane Bingham, who live on opposite coasts but have both been affected by the disease, hatched the idea to use Barbie for the movement because she's such a popular children's toy.
Bingham has lost her hair due to chemotherapy treatments to treat lymphoma. Sypin's 12-year-old daughter, Kin Inich, also lost her hair this year in her own battle with leukemia.
Mattel didn't return calls on Wednesday seeking comment, but the women said they have contacted the company through some general form letters. In return, they said, they've received form letters that say Mattel doesn't accept ideas from outside sources.
The women say a bald Barbie would provide a huge platform to raise awareness for children with cancer.
Barbie, all 11.5 inches of her, is one of the best-known toys of all time. She can sell for $10 US at Wal-Mart or $7,000 US on eBay.
But Barbie has also been dissed for not being as socially responsible as she could be. She's best known for her curves, which long have sparked complaints by women's groups that say she imposes an unachievable physical standard on young girls. She also was lambasted when a talking version uttered an exclamation about math class being hard.
"We're not demanding that the company do anything," Sypin said Wednesday. "We're just hoping somebody sees this and can help us make it happen."
Hasbro Inc., the maker of G.I. Joe, didn't immediately return a call for comment.
