Barbie releases Tokyo Olympics collection - seems to exclude Asians

[phantasmas 10,405]

The collection includes five dolls that reflect the five new sports that had been added to the Olympic program this year -- baseball/softball, sport climbing, karate, skateboarding and surfing.

Despite an attempt to highlight inclusivity and innovation, many were quick to note the absence of an Asian Barbie during its repromotion last month.

"Mattel renders #AsianAmericans invisible while touting 'most diverse doll line yet,' highlighting an Asian country, featuring #Barbie in Japanese karate uniform, [and] branding each doll 'Tokyo official,'" Japanese American visual artist Drue Kataoka tweeted.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/09/sport/barbie-no-asian-representation-tokyo-olympics-spt-intl/index.html

[Neroneau 1,011]

Cute 

[JoanneMonster 8,953]

the one on right corner what ethnicity represents?

[Dayman 6,153]

But the one on the top right is Asian… the hair isn’t like black, but it’s pretty obvious the face mold and painted features are supposed to be Asian.

[Chromatica Island 8,517]

The one on the top right is asian tho

[P0JffionRowQat 27]

Top right is probably mixed-Asian.

Mattel had BTS collection with different hair colors too.

[INNA 3,660]

8 minutes ago, Monsterabriel said:

The one on the top right is asian tho

Right? It would be insane for them to not include an Asian doll in the line. 
Unfortunately it seems more like that folks are operating on their stereotypes of what an Asian woman should look like to them and automatically assume that a slightly lighter hair color means she’s white or other.

[Jill 30,016]

35 minutes ago, JoanneMonster said:

the one on right corner what ethnicity represents?

Barbie-casian

[phantasmas 10,405]

1 hour ago, Dayman said:

But the one on the top right is Asian… the hair isn’t like black, but it’s pretty obvious the face mold and painted features are supposed to be Asian.

 

1 hour ago, Monsterabriel said:

The one on the top right is asian tho

 

1 hour ago, good said:

Right? It would be insane for them to not include an Asian doll in the line. 
Unfortunately it seems more like that folks are operating on their stereotypes of what an Asian woman should look like to them and automatically assume that a slightly lighter hair color means she’s white or other.

Some would argue that the top right Barbie is "ambiguously Asian"  and others would argue there is not enough Asian representation within this collection - valid points, IMO

For reference, here is a doll made of Chloe Kim (South Korean):

Spoiler

and one of Naomi Osaka (Japanese):

Spoiler

 

[Chromatica Island 8,517]

4 minutes ago, phantasmas said:

 

 

Some would argue that the top right Barbie is "ambiguously Asian"  and others would argue there is not enough Asian representation within this collection - valid points, IMO

For reference, here is a doll made of Chloe Kim (South Korean):

  Reveal hidden contents

and one of Naomi Osaka (Japanese):

  Reveal hidden contents

 

I also agree with this as well!

[phantasmas 10,405]

1 hour ago, P0JffionRowQat said:

Top right is probably mixed-Asian.

Mattel had BTS collection with different hair colors too.

No hate to BTS or their stans but these dolls scare me 

[phantasmas 10,405]

If y'all wanna talk about what Barbies you have collected, im here for that too 

[P0JffionRowQat 27]

18 minutes ago, phantasmas said:

No hate to BTS or their stans but these dolls scare me 

  They don't look Asian either?

32 minutes ago, phantasmas said:

Some would argue that the top right Barbie is "ambiguously Asian"  and

others would argue there is not enough Asian representation within this collection

 

Some would argue "are half-Asian not asian enough"?  Implying the mixed-Asian should represent Asian.

Others would argue Mattel is misogynist for not including full-Asian female, which agrees with your last sentence.

 

 

 

 

 

[phantasmas 10,405]

5 minutes ago, P0JffionRowQat said:

  They don't look Asian either?

Some would argue "are half-Asian not asian enough"?  Implying the mixed-Asian should represent Asian.

Others would argue Mattel is misogynist for not including full-Asian female, which agrees with your last sentence.

 

 

 

 

 

I'm not trying to argue whether or not the BTS dolls are Asian.. they just look scary to me.. but maybe its just my bias against men