In an effort to encourage young girls to pursue careers in the aviation sector, Barbie has partnered with Virgin Atlantic to release three new dolls as part of the brand's 'Dream Gap Project.' The new additions include a pilot Barbie, an engineer Barbie, and a cabin crew Barbie.
The three new dolls were designed to be more diverse and show a range of body shapes and ethnicities. The new Barbies were modeled after real Virgin Atlantic workers, and notably, the pilot Barbie in wearing flat safety boots in lieu of Barbie's traditional heels. Virgin Atlantic hopes to "play the long-game" in order to ensure women are more represented in various positions regarding aviation.
The new Barbie dolls are available to purchase in select stores and on board Virgin Atlantic flights.
Female Aviation-Specific Dolls
Barbie Partnered with Virgin Atlantic to Release Three New Dolls
Trend Themes
1. Aviation Diversity - Barbie's partnership with Virgin Atlantic to release diverse aviation-specific dolls highlights the trend of promoting inclusivity and diversity in the aviation industry.
2. Career Empowerment - The introduction of pilot, engineer, and cabin crew dolls by Barbie emphasizes the trend of empowering young girls to pursue careers in traditionally male-dominated industries.
3. Representation Advocacy - The collaboration between Barbie and Virgin Atlantic signifies the trend of advocating for gender representation in the aviation sector and breaking traditional gender stereotypes.
Industry Implications
1. Toy Manufacturing - The release of aviation-specific dolls by Barbie presents disruptive innovation opportunities for the toy manufacturing industry to create inclusive and diverse toys that promote gender equality and career aspirations.
2. Aviation - The partnership between Barbie and Virgin Atlantic highlights the potential for disruptive innovation in the aviation industry to address gender diversity and encourage more women to pursue careers in aviation.
3. Retail - The availability of the new Barbie dolls in select stores and on board Virgin Atlantic flights offers disruptive innovation opportunities for the retail industry to cater to the demand for diverse and empowering toys.