A Barbie with a hearing aid, a prosthetic leg or in a wheelchair: Since 2015, the toy company Mattel has been bringing more diversity and inclusion to doll shelves with the Barbie Fashionistas line. The first doll with Down syndrome was launched at the “Barbie Fashionistas Talk” in Hamburg. The activist Natalie Dedreux (25) spoke at the event.
She is also sponsoring the new Barbie doll. The Cologne native has Down syndrome herself and writes about her life as a blogger and author. In the interview, the 25-year-old talks about the special process of creating the new Barbie and what significance it has for people with Down syndrome.
Natalie Dedreux: Yes, as a child I would have loved to play with Barbies with Down Syndrome. And the thing is, the Barbie dolls have to have Down Syndrome because it’s important to make that more visible. Because then society will realize that Down syndrome is cool too.
Dedreux: It is important to accept that we people with Down syndrome are also part of society.
Dedreux: That’s why it’s important that you also have the courage to play with the Barbies with Down syndrome. That also means that you don’t have to be afraid of it. But Down syndrome is normal.
Dedreux: What we have also encountered is that not much attention is paid to us, but that we people with disabilities are still too often forgotten. And that has to change. It’s the same with inclusion. There needs to be more inclusion everywhere. So that we people with disabilities are visible and can also have a say. Because we disabled people are important, we are also a part of our society. We are part of it and we have to be taken seriously. That needs to change!
Dedreux: In politics, it’s important to say again that more people with disabilities have a say in politics. We people with disabilities are also interested in politics. And what is also important: the politicians often speak too quickly and then we don’t understand them and don’t keep up. That’s why it’s important to make sure that there’s more easy-to-understand language in politics, too.
Dedreux: Exactly, even today people with Down syndrome are sometimes excluded. For example, we often have to work in workshops. But the problem is not with us, it is with society. We also want to have a job that we enjoy more and earn just as much money as everyone else.
Dedreux: Where I still need support in everyday life is, for example, when dealing with money – and when entering appointments. If I ever have an event in another city, I also need support.
Dedreux: What I can also say: It’s normal when you meet people with Down syndrome and that’s why you can’t do anything wrong. The most important thing is that you don’t have to be afraid of us.
