Bald Barbie started with a Facebook campaign that proved influential. At first, Mattel rejected the idea, but when more than 100,000 people "liked" it, they decided to go for it. It's interesting to note that in the official statement from Mattel, they specify that the doll "will be a friend of Barbie." Too bad they didn't have the courage to make it Barbie herself. I guess then all subsequent Barbies would be in remission and have to live with the fear of relapse. The other bad news is that they are only producing 10,000 to start and they will only be available through children's hospitals. So by limiting production and availability, not all kids who want one will be able to get one. Do they think that only current cancer patients deserve one? Are they trying to turn it into a collector's item? Do they think that siblings and friends of kids with cancer will not want one too? Are they just worried about their brand image and do not want risk controversy? They sure are implying these things.While Mattel was weighing its options, the makers of Bratz dolls went to work and quickly announced their new True Hope dolls. They will not be new characters, but three Bratz and three Moxie Girlz and Boyz that fans are already familiar with- Cloe, Yasmin, Cameron, Avery, Sophina, and Jaxson. These bald dolls will be for sale in Toys'R'Us stores starting in June. They retain all of the Bratz/Moxie Dollz look, except the hair. They still have trendy clothes and make-up, but each comes with a bracelet that kids add beads to with each chemotherapy treatment.
I think it is crucial that the characters are the same as the original Bratz and Moxie Dollz. It is more consistent with real life, that anyone (regular kids and adults) can get cancer. It does not make you less of a person, and does not mean that your family and friends love you less. Also, a child that loved a particular Bratz doll before their diagnosis can keep that same friend with them through their treatment, now without hair. Because the True Hope dolls will be widely available, relatives and friends of the cancer-diagnosed child can receive their own too. This does not separate and stigmatize the way that Bald Barbie might.
