COVID-19 heroes honoured by new Barbie range
Women in science and medicine are being honoured with a miniature version of themselves in the form of a Barbie doll.
Toymaker Mattel has recognised the work of six women across STEM who have made significant contributions to the fight against COVID-19 by modelling new Barbies after them.
Professor Sarah Gilbert, one of the co-developers of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, is one of the honourees, with her Barbie sharing her long auburn hair and oversized black glasses.
“It’s a very strange concept having a Barbie doll created in my likeness,” Gilbert said in an interview for Mattel.
“I hope it will be part of making it more normal for girls to think about careers in science.”
Amy O’Sullivan, the emergency room nurse who treated the first COVID-19 patient at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn and appeared on the cover of Time magazine for its 100 Most Influential People list, also received a doll version of herself.
Other honourees include Dr Chika Stacy Oriuwa, a Canadian psychiatrist who spoke out against racism in healthcare, frontline doctor Audrey Cruz, who fought discrimination, and Jacqueline Goes de Jesus, the Brazilian biomedical researcher who led the genome sequencing of a COVID-19 variant in Brazil.
Finally, Australian Dr Kirby White, who pioneered a washable and reusable surgical gown for frontline workers to use during the pandemic, received a doll in her honour.
To support her work, $5 from each eligible doctor, nurse, and medical doll sold in Australia will be donated by Barbie to Gowns for Doctors, the initiative she started to supply GPs with the gowns.
“This donation from Barbie will mean many more doctors across Australia will be able to receive a box of reusable protective gowns and many patients and children will be able to seek care from their doctor,” the Bendigo GP said.
🇦🇺👩⚕️ @Barbie launches 6 new dolls celebrating female scientists - including Australian Dr Kirby White. Dr White pioneered Gowns for Doctors, an initiative behind surgical gowns that can be washed & reused by frontline workers during the pandemic.
▶️ More: https://t.co/PHYXvyFIu5 pic.twitter.com/PwnL6J4I8o— Australia in the US 🇦🇺🇺🇸 (@AusintheUS) August 4, 2021
“Australia is once again facing increasing COVID-19 case numbers and this donation will allow Gowns for Doctors to upscale our efforts to support those clinics in need.”
In the UK, Gilbert chose Women in Science and Engineering (WISE), a nonprofit organisation inspiring girls to pursue a career in STEM, to receive a financial donation from the company.
Image: Mattel