Computer Engineer Barbie

Computer Engineer Barbie in its packaging

Computer Engineer Barbie is the 126th career version of Mattel's Barbie doll. The doll set was created in response to poll results indicating strong support for the career, and introduced in 2010. In 2014 Mattel apologized for the accompanying book, I Can Be a Computer Engineer, after internet complaints that it represented Barbie as incompetent in the field, needing the help of men.

Description

The doll has a pink laptop and a pink smartphone, and is wearing geometric pink glasses, a pink watch, black leggings, a T-shirt decorated with "Barbie" spelled in binary code, a fitted vest with saddle-stitch detailing, pink wedges, and a Bluetooth headset.[1][2] The packaging included a code to unlock exclusive game content on the Barbie website.[3] Female engineers including Betty Shanahan, CEO of the Society of Women Engineers, and Alice Agogino of the National Academy of Engineering were consulted on her wardrobe and work environment.[1][3][4][5] They suggested that for authenticity she needed "a Coke can and a bag of Doritos" on her desk; she has a coffee cup. One mockup also included a Linux penguin;[4] Barbie is running Linux on her dual-monitor set-up.[6]

History

Mattel conducted a poll to choose Barbie's 125th career, and although girls preferred news anchor, computer engineer was the most popular choice in online polling,[4] partly because of promotion by the Society of Women Engineers.[1][3][6] The two dolls were launched together at the 2010 American International Toy Fair.[3][4]

Reception

Many writers for tech publications and other reviewers were encouraged by the choice of career, hoping it would encourage girls to consider careers in computer science.[2][4][7][8] However, the amount of pink, the hairstyle, and the stylish clothes struck some women as unrealistic and stereotyped.[2]

The accompanying book, I Can Be a Computer Engineer, was issued in 2013 together with I Can Be an Actress.[9][10] The book received extensive criticism, especially beginning in November 2014, for depicting Barbie as relying on two male friends to program the game she is designing.[8][10][11] In addition, they need to help her after she accidentally infects her and her sister Skipper's computers with a virus (via the pink heart-shaped USB stick she wears around her neck), after ignoring advice from her (female) computer teacher.[12][13][14][15][16] A website was created to enable people to replace segments of the book's text with their own,[8][13] and Mattel pulled the title from Amazon after many critical reviews.[17] The publisher stated it was being discontinued.[18] A Mattel spokesperson said that the book had first been published in 2010 and was outdated,[10] and the company apologized.[8][14][15][16] The book's Barbie says she's "only creating the design ideas" and that her two male friends will have to do the coding; the author, who proclaimed herself a feminist, said her assignment had been to portray Barbie as a designer and "regrets that she may have let stereotypes slip into the book".[18]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Melissa Harris, "Mattel launching computer engineer Barbie", Chicago Confidential, Chicago Tribune, April 14, 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 Elizabeth Diffin, "Does Barbie's new geeky look fit with reality?", BBC News Magazine, 16 February 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Sharon Gaudin, "Look who's a nerd: Barbie becomes computer engineer", Computerworld, February 17, 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 K. T. Bradford, "How Mattel Designed Computer Engineer Barbie to Excite Adult Geeks, Young Minds", Laptop, February 16, 2010.
  5. ↑ Cathy Cockrell, "The making of a 'lifetime mentor award' winner", University of California, Berkeley news, January 28, 2013.
  6. 1 2 Jane McEntegart, "Computer Engineer Barbie: Dual Monitors, Linux", Tom's Guide, February 15, 2010.
  7. ↑ Terry Hancock, "Post-Christmas Review: Tech Toys and GNU/Linux Compatibility", Free Software Magazine, February 1, 2011.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Amanda Kooser, "Barbie book implies girls can't be coders; Mattel apologizes", CNET, November 19, 2014.
  9. ↑ Susan Marenco, Barbie: I Can Be an Actress / I Can Be a Computer Engineer, New York: Random House Juvenile, 2013, ISBN 9780449816202.
  10. 1 2 3 Lori Grisham, "Engineer Barbie has computer problems. Call the boys?", USA Today, November 19, 2014.
  11. ↑ Cornell Barnard, "Barbie gets backlash for needing man's tech help", KGO-TV, November 18, 2014.
  12. ↑ Michael Schaub, "Barbie computer engineer book criticized for 'sexist drivel'", Jacket Copy, Los Angeles Times, November 19, 2014.
  13. 1 2 Aisha Gani, "Barbie can be a computer engineer ... but only with help of a man", Women, The Guardian, November 19, 2014.
  14. 1 2 Laura Stampler, "Mattel Apologizes for Making Barbie Look Incompetent in Barbie: I Can Be a Computer Engineer", Time, November 19, 2014.
  15. 1 2 Kevin Short, "Mattel Apologizes For Depicting Barbie As An Incompetent Computer Engineer", Huffington Post, November 19, 2014.
  16. 1 2 Heather Saul, "'Barbie: I Can Be A Computer Engineer' blasted because men do all the coding in the book", The Independent, November 20, 2014.
  17. ↑ Sarah Buhr, "Sexist Barbie Book 'I Can Be A Computer Engineer' Pulled Off Amazon", TechCrunch, November 19, 2014.
  18. 1 2 Susanna Kim, "Barbie Author 'Scared to Open' Email After Book Labeled ‘Sexist’", ABC News, November 19, 2014.
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