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Barbie Case Analysis

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Mattel fueled female-empowerment; however, they have taken a sharp unforeseen turn towards a movement that promotes body acceptance. Three new bodies, petite, tall and curvy, from Mattel will take shelves beginning January 28th 2018. They will be sold alongside the original busty, thin-waisted form on Barbie.com, still all under the name Barbie. The spotlight however is shined upon the curvy one; thick thighs, a protruding stomach and a behind that seems to be talking the most. The startling change to the most infamous body in the world [] . The brand does $1 billion in sales across more than 150 countries and 92% of girls in America ages 3 to 12 own or have owned a Barbie [] . The company hopes that the new dolls, having diverse body types, new skin tones and hair textures introduced last spring will bring a sense of reflection to the young owner’s world. Dr. Harding explains it as “bigger than Barbie’s shape, because this really gets gender inequality in the United States as well” []. Mattel changes Barbie’s image after fifty-seven years as a result of continuous accusations of the It-girl frame affecting female society. Late January of 2015, Mattel released the images of the new barbie. The iconic doll now made in petite, curvy, tall, and original. This move Mattel says is “More than just making Barbie look different”. [] Mattel is re-focusing their late powerhouse brand, sales have plummeted in recent years as the doll has struggled to remain relevant to little girls

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