♿️The Ugly Truths About Wheelchair Barbie
Вставка
- Опубліковано 26 чер 2024
- The Ugly Truths About Wheelchair Barbie, a look into wheelchair Barbie/Beckies history, and her continued struggles for representation, and fight for disability access. It's all in this video.
💎About me:
I’m Gem, and after my spinal cord injury at the age of 9, • ♿️HEART SURGERY PARALY... my life has taken me on many twists and turns, and finally led me to combine my passions of media and disability advocacy, et voila! Wheelsnoheels was born.
👨👩👧I live in the UK with Shaun, my Australian husband, Daisy my Daughter. And our fur babies Tink & Bindi. All of whom make an appearance now and again.
♿️My Wheelchair Stats
GTM Jaguar
Aluminium Fixed Rigid Frame
9kg (Including cushion, wheels,& castors)
Spinergy LXL Wheels
Carbo-life curves push rims
Single fork castors
That cool power wheelchair attachment is a Batec
🎥 On this channel you will find videos on:
Disability hot topics
Choosing a wheelchair/mobility aid
Traveling as a wheelchair user
Making a home accessible
Wheelchair access in Disney
If you feel I have given you value today consider buying me a ko-fi, or giving a super thanks, just think of it as a tip.
www. ko-fi. com/wheelsnoheels
📱FOLLOW ME ON📱
INSTAGRAM @WHEELSNOHEELS_
TWITTER @WHEELSNOHEELS
FACEBOOK WEELSNOHEELS
TIKTOCK @WHEELSNOHEELS_
📩CONTACT ME📩
gem@wheelsnoheels.co.uk
Did you Know you can Hire me?
press@wheelsnoheels.co.uk
*TV & Radio Presenting
*Motivational Speaking
*Collaborations
*Filming and Producing
*Modeling
♿️VIDEOS YOU MAY ENJOY ♿️
DISABILITY CHATS
• DISABILITY AWARNESS ♿️
PARAPLEGIC LIFESTYLE
• WHEELCHAIR ETIQUETTE ♿️
BASIC WHEELCHAIR SKILLS
• ♿️BASIC WHEELCHAIR SKI...
VLOGS: LIFE ON WHEELS
• DISABILITY PRODUCT REV...
MY TEDx TALK
• From teen despair, to ...
Ok. So literally today, I saw the newest wheelchair Barbie now has orange high heels on!!!! 🙈 Not sure when this change was made….but it’s progress.🙌🏽
My wheelchair Barbie has orange heals on.
That’s so cool!
❤❤
I was going to mention this too, mine does as well and I noticed yours is the pink chair Barbie that should have the orange heel. But most made-to-move Barbie dolls have those feet so they can wear either heels or flats for more types of play! Wheelchair Barbie being the only Fashionista to have a made-to-move body type, all the others have the normal 5 points of articulation. I think it's very intresting that the Wheelchair Barbie is the only Fashionista with a made-to-move body but that is so she can bend her legs and use the wheels so it works out well!
are you fan of barbie
When I was leaving the theater a little boy waved and said “hello wheelchair Barbie” he was so sweet about it and I took that as a positive. He noticed 😊
That is so cute. Were you dressed you too? ❤
Aww
Aww bless him
@@Wheelsnoheels just a pink tshirt. A group of women in their 80’s said they’ve been waiting along time for a movie like this and they we’re definitely dressed for it! I did love the energy in the theater 💗
Hahaha how cute 😂
A few corrections for you Gem!
1) Becky was introduced as a separate friend of Barbie (as opposed to being another version of Barbie) NOT because they couldn't have a disabled doll as the lead, but for two reasons. First, this was during the era when every new doll was either a friend of Barbie or a friend of Barbie's sister Kelly. This ties in with the second reason: continuity. Mattel tried really hard during this era to keep a continuity among the characters, which is why they had all these "friends of _" dolls instead of different versions of Barbie like we have now. Giving the dolls their own unique names and stories also made them more personal to buyers than just "Doll #123" like we have now.
2) Share a Smile Becky was a part of the Share A Smile collection! It was supposed to be a campaign about friendship and kindness, and there were 2 other dolls in the collection: Christie and Barbie, and all had matching outfits and friendship necklaces. Becky wasn't a standalone doll. This campaign partnered with the National Parent Network on Disabilities and National Lekotek Center for the creation of Becky in this line.
3) The problems you mentioned about the doll's hair and not fitting in the dream house actually came with Becky, not the doll before like you made it sound. Mattel actually cited these issues as a reason why the doll was finally discontinued, but as for whether or not that is truly the reason, I cannot say. Logistically, Becky was probably a rather expensive doll to produce and the cost vs benefit analysis just didn't support continuing her production. I'm not saying that's right or just by any means; just trying to provide insight into the industry.
Thank you for sharing. I did a lot of research, but this didn’t come up. Good to know ❤
Tl;dr
Thanks for sharing! There's so much to research and work to do surrounding making these videos that no wonder little details are easily missed. I'm sure Gem can now create a highlighted comment/caption updating us on these further tidbits of info! 🎉
@@oscarchooses First Becky was part of a set of three about friendship, not stand alone. Photographer Becky was the doll with hair in the wheels issues, and it was most likely cost that caused her discontinuation,
@okarnillokarnill975 ah ok thanks for shortening it I have quite a short attention span and I'm dyslexic so it was a bit difficult to read
When I was a kid I played with playmobil. One of my favourite figures got broken in the areas where the legs get connected to the torso, so my mum fixed him up the best she could, and put him in a playmobil wheelchair.
In my playmobil world he had had an accident and now needed to use a wheelchair to get around.
I would have loved her having a bigger role in the movie. That being said, her leading the choreography at one point in the dance sequence made me so happy!
How about a G.I. Military Ken to honor us guys who uses wheelchairs ♿️
THAT WOULD BE EPIC
It's not a military Ken doll but Barbie does have male dolls in wheelchairs
@@ezrea9313 we need one omg that would be amazing
Why a military ken? What does it matter
@sacrilegioussasquatch their are many of we male and female war veterans who are in wheelchairs that would probably like to have a GI Ken or a GI Jane on our desk or for demo purposes. I think it would be something new for many of us. It is just a mental boost for us I believe..
I think other popular doll lines are also starting to pick up having representation for people in wheelchairs and other disabilities. American girl dolls have a wheelchair that looks more like the modern ultra lightweight custom wheelchairs. They also have hearing aids for their dolls as well as diabetic kit for those kids who have insulin pumps. They also have bald dolls for kids who go through chemo. There is still much more that can be done and I think it’s important that boys in wheelchairs also have toys that fit with them. Most of these toys are aimed at girls, but boys are also in wheelchairs and having toys for them should also be important.
Wheelchair Barbie can wear heels! (At least the one I have can.) Because she has mobility at her ankles, you can actually put heeled shoes on her - my wheelchair Barbie and my non-disabled Barbie can share all their clothes. :)
Definitely! They're on Made To Move bodies and thus can wear any type of shoe ☺️
I found it ironic at the end Barbie wanted to be known for more than just being Barbie, like her peers, Dr Barbie, president Barbie etc. Wheelchair Barbie was still only known for her wheelchair. I've felt the same, like my wheels are my only identity. They aren't! We are people who use wheelchairs, not just "the girl in the wheelchair". Our Barbie needed a minor speaking role at minimum I believe.
I was just impressed that she was included in the dance number and not just at the side clapping or nodding along x but SPEAK? Wow, now we're asking too much 😅
Maybe in the next movie they will include this ❤
My little cousin had asked for wheelchair Barbie when she came out in 2019 and I remember full on SOBBING at the Christmas dinner table because I had never seen one before. I was so happy to have just a shred of representation. Sad to know she's only 4 Seconds of the movie
A lot of the different barbies and Ken’s are only have a short few seconds of dialogue but they are seen for way more than those few seconds (wheelchair barbie is seen more than for 4 seconds, it’s just her speaking role is 4 seconds), outside the main cast that is. But glad to see so much diversity still ❤
@@YouokhunThat’s actually not true - wheelchair barbie doesn’t have any speaking role, it is literally only the 4 seconds in the movie that she can ever be seen on screen
@@elisee.. I will need to rewatch, maybe it was in a trailer I thought she said something before leading the dance group! The next movie could have barbie with Down syndrome, barbie in a wheelchair and many other barbies have speaking roles that we didn’t get to see in this one 😊🤞
Weird Barbie, initially we see she's an outcast & the other Barbies dont like her as she's different & scary. In the end she helps save the day & Barbie apologises for othering her. Just a thought but could be seen as a story arc particularly for invisible disabilities.
I really enjoyed the nod to mental health and othering of it. Although it wasn’t explicitly mentioned, it’s a start for representation (same as most characters in the movie!)
That's a really good insight!!
I find "Share a Smile Becky," to be a very condescending or patronizing name. I also don't like them calling the new dolls "Wheelchair Barbie," I'm guessing you wouldn't like to be called "Wheelchair Gem." For example I don't like it when people apologize to me cause I have Pudendal Neuralgia, though I do know that it comes from a good place.
The new doll isn't actually called "Wheelchair Barbie" it is just "Fashionista 132" (that is the number for the blonde Barbie with the blue chair). None of the Fashionista dolls have names but we just tend to give them description names to make it clearer! I also don't like calling her Wheelchair Barbie, but the Fashionista dolls are for play so you can name them whatever you want and give them any jobs in your world!
The fashionistas only have numbers as names, so "wheelchair Barbie" doesn't even exist 💖
Also, the "share a smile" Becky was part of a lineup of multiple dolls and was made to promote friendship and acceptance ☺️
I haven’t seen this movie yet. However I do think that able bodied people are more comfortable with disabled people when we are all smiles. ❤
I acknowledge that Becky was far from perfect, but honestly as a 90s/2000s kid this was the only doll my parents found that had a wheelchair. Even Becky was really difficult to find….
What I noticed was that Wheelchair Barbie’s seat is blocking her leg joints so her legs can’t bend to make contact with her footplate. It’s almost beneath the chair. If my chair was like that, I’d be so scared.
tbf on the actual doll the footplate is moveable, it just needs to be moved forward
current barbie wheelchairs footplates are rotatable so the they can be put at any angle. Also the dolls have two joints in each knee so they could get their leg bent all the way closed if wanted. Look up Made to Move Barbie, thats the body type used on Fashionistas Barbies.
Honestly I teared up a bit when I saw wheelchair Barbie during the dance number, ever since I was a kid I have wanted to be a part of a big musical number but always felt unable to because of my wheelchair. So even though I do agree with you that I have seen better representation and that wheelchair Barbie could have and should have had a bigger role it still brought me joy to see. I don’t know if you have seen Mamma Mia 2 but there Amy Trigg (a disabled actor and wheelchair user) was part of the dance crew for the song Waterloo which was amazing and she got a lot more screen time than wheelchair Barbie did and I think it was more well done than in the Barbie movie. In general we just need more speaking roles for disabled characters. 😊 (Also if anyone knows the name of wheelchair Barbies actor please let me know!)
I believe wheelchair barbie in the dance sequence is played by Ali Stroker. I've been following her since she tried to get on Glee but was not picked. She's won awards for broadway performances, including musicals.
@@OurGalaxieSystemIsQueer Hi, I just looked it up and according to IMDb wheelchair Barbie is played by Grace Harvey! But I will definitely check out some of Ali Strokers work😊
@@Juliechrisvideo oops, my bad, you’re totally right.
I love that they have made one of Chelsea’s friends have scoliosis and she wears a back brace. They are doing a LOT more than they ever have before. It’s a start!!!
There's a Chelsea in a wheelchair now, I only saw her last week, come payday she's mine lol
I loved your points and I am getting my episode ready from a disability and African American perspective because no natural hair for president Barbie when we are trying to get the CROWN act to pass and with Barbie's parties I did not see wheelchair Barbie and was that because she had the newer model where she literally can't enter...oh and the flat feet I saw noticed because when I volunteered and was playing dolls with some of the girls one was trying to put heels on wheelchair Barbie to make sure her outfit slayed so I got duct tape and used a purple marker and we forced it. It made the girls day, and we laughed but I wondered about that but forgot until you mentioned it. Great video!
I liked the detail at the beginning when the presentation included "boys playing with Barbie." In the 1960s, one of my male cousins had a Barbie doll with a few outfits and accessories throughout his single-digit years. He played "Barbies" with a next door neighbor child, who was female. They played all sorts of games traditionally associated with males, females, or children, in general. Come to think of it, so did I.
I grew up watching tracy beaker and then the dumping ground and I still watch the dumping ground. For a few seasons there was a character on the show who was in a wheel chair. I thought it was great that they included that.The dumping ground has included many young actors from many different backgrounds and with many different difficulties to over come. I definitely think we need more kids shows that include people with disabilities in them.
Even before I saw the movie I knew that wheelchair Barbie would feature for a few seconds. I saw the LA event and all through Chelsie's videos but I just knew they were being inclusive for the gala only, which I confirmed through the UK premiere via your video. If wheelchair Barbie were to have more screen time, all premieres would have been accessible, I think. So I wasn't surprised when I saw her twice in the movie and without a single line of dialogue. And now watching this, I agree with you on how the flat feet thing and disability were treated, but since wheelchair, Barbie barely features the film and no one really notices what shoes we wear, I don't think it is done on purpose. But only because we were a token in the movie and we are easily forgotten in there.
I had a Becky myself, but my friends broke her wheelchair while playing and her dress also broke with time, which is a pity, because I would have liked to keep her still today, but I was a kid when she was gifted to me so obviously I played with her and things happened xD. I didn't know about her not fitting most of Barbie's stuff, but it makes sense that was one of the reasons why she was discontinued, apart from her exclusivity somehow (I do remember mine was like a limited edition somehow so it must have been Smiling Becky.
I didn't know either that other models of wheelchair Barbie were released, it's good to know we haven't been forgotten. Thanks for the video.
I personally love that they had a trans actress (shown in this vid on thumbnail + at timestamp 13:55 ) but ofc in the film she wasn’t trans and also when she was hired they didn’t even know she was trans, she just fit the roll.
What you said about all the barbies being grossed out by the flat feet, that was such a good point! yeah that seriously just feels so thoughtless! i can't believe that was in the movie!
The wheelchair dolls are on Made To Move bodies so they're more than able to wear heels.
The "hate to flat feet" thing is actually an inside joke made for longtime fans and collectors as the start of using flat feet coincides with the downfall of Barbie as a brand. That was before wheelchair Barbie in the fashionistas line was even a thing.
But again, it has nothing to do with the flat shoes wheelchair dolls wear as they can wear high heels ☺️
It is interesting that shows have more inclusive characters that have disabilities and yet thrive. One of my favorite shows is the Good Doctor where Shawn Murphy is a gifted surgeon but he has autism. Another character on the show was injured and in a wheelchair. She really showed the struggles she faced as a surgeon in a wheelchair and what accommodations were made so that she could still perform surgeries. She really struggled with having to be in a wheelchair and then when she met other people in wheelchairs including a love interest, it really helped her kind of settle down accept her new life. Then, when she was given the chance to walk again, she struggled with the idea did she really want to walk again after she had accepted her new life. She was afraid her new boyfriend might not want her anymore if she could walk again. In the end she went ahead with the surgery and was able to walk again. Her boyfriend didn’t ditch her but she had a much more positive outlook for those who did have disabilities. Of course her case isn’t typical and many people who suffer an injury don’t get the chance to walk again, but I did think this character did make the struggles we all face more real. And with having that kind of representation in a mainstream show, disabled people can perhaps be better understood.
Thank you! This was a wonderful episode filmed and I love the fact that you highlighted all of this include the history of wheelchairs in the world of Barbie
I didn't know they made a vitiligo Barbie! That's so cool! I have vitiligo. I hope they expand that design to have some different skin tones/hair types, though. That doll is clearly meant to be someone of African heritage, so it's very narrow representation. The condition is more obvious on people with more melanin (so many of Asian heritage as well) but it is also visible on pale skin like mine. I feel like it gets a completely different stigma if you're lighter vs darker, too. Darker skin + vitiligo = what's going on with your skin? Lighter + vitiligo = I think you need to go wash... (because the remaining pale pigment just looks dirty)
--Edit, re: flat feet. All of the younger Barbie friends have flat feet. They didn't include Skippers and Stacies and Kellies in the film because it was an adult story, but had they included them the flat foot transformation SHOULD have held different connotations.
They are several with vitiligo thats just the first one that was released, I have two different barbies with vitiligo and there is also a ken with it as well.
@@kendrasullivan7407 Good to know! Whenever I've searched online I only see the one that looks like Winnie Harlow.
The wheelchair dolls are on Made To Move bodies so they're more than able to wear heels.
The "hate to flat feet" thing is actually an inside joke made for longtime fans and collectors as the start of using flat feet coincides with the downfall of Barbie as a brand. That was before wheelchair Barbie in the fashionistas line was even a thing.
But again, it has nothing to do with the flat shoes wheelchair dolls wear as they can wear high heels ☺️
👋 from Melbourne, Australia 🇦🇺. I've been using a wheelchair for almost 21years. I was 30 when I became paralysed. I have no use from just below my bellybutton. Christmas of 2022 I gave my Great Neice, who was almost 3 at the time, a Wheelchair Barbie. I'm sure her feet are pointed as she had shoes with heels on. All her joints move, including her ankles. It also came with a ramp. She has a ordinary wooden dolls house, & wheelchair barbie is always in there. My Great Niece has only known me in a wheelchair. She climbs all over me. Doesn't quite understand why I can't stand up. She has said to me before " Aunty Heather stand up". When I told her that I couldn't stand up because my legs don't work, she said "Yes you can". Even though she has never seen me stand at all. Her Dad, my Nephew, said to her that Aunty Heather can't stand up. She then said the inevitable word "Why". She will understand when she gets a bit older. I plan to buy her younger sister one for her 2nd birthday.
I can't seem to find some of the other Barbies or Ken. And I've never seen the sports Barbies. I think more shops should keep them. Not everyone shops online. I prefer to go to the shops to buy my things. It's part of the experience & it helps to keep jobs.
I loved my wheelchair using Barbie/Becky when I was little. I didn't have a dream home so my doll was able to do everything lol
I now collect barbies with disabilities. I can't wait for the wheelchair barbie ornament at Hallmark this year!
I'm pretty sure Ken's castors were backwards as well 🤔
Thanks, Gemma for helping to keep my blindspot on humanity small.
Lego also had a wheelchair user, but the front casters didn't turn.
@@ChrisPage68 that's interesting. It didn't look like the casters turned with Barbie chairs either 🤔
I honestly didn't even realized there was a wheelchair Barbie in the movie lol
Thank you,thank you,thank you,for using your voice to help others to deal with the representation of people with disabilities!
I’d like to see powerchair barbie, as powerchair user it’s a very different experience and made to feel like not just an accessory
I'd love to see this too. Though can you imagine if they made it remote controlled oh dear. I bought Wheelchair Barbie for my daughter but she said she wanted one like mine (I have a powerchair)
I’ve been waiting for someone to mention the fact that wheelchair Barbie only showed up for a little tiny bit in that movie. I’ve just been waiting for someone else to notice.
I think I’d carry a keychain air horn for use when I was told, “Give us a smile.”😏
The most memorable film for me which showed diversity was in the 80s a film called Mac and Me where the young boy was in a wheelchair AND was the main character (apart from the aliens). Unfortunately I remember it was overshadowed a lot by ET but I’ve always thought Mac and Me was the better film and a lot of fun.
It was sickly and sentimental.
Great video as always Gem! I enjoyed the Barbie movie and was happy to see the wheelchair using Barbie but wish she’d had more screen time. ❤
I was really pleased to see wheelchair Skipper too a few weeks ago
I cringed a bit at “Share a Smile” Becky as well.
"share a smile" was actually a line of multiple dolls that was trying to promote friendship and acceptance, Becky was just part of the lineup 💖
i loved that calling out of ableism- do wish we could have an autistic one and see the wheelchair barbie for longer. Maybe have Midge and Becky and some of the inclusive barbies in like a tv show or something.
Autistic dolls are tricky to do without being offensive since its not visible(no not all autistic people look like shelldon). The walmart 18 inch dolls tried to do one a couple years and as a autistic person myself involved in several autistic online community's it was ok at best. The shirt was the worst part.
@@kendrasullivan7407 I kinda meant in the movie( sorry for not being clear) but I see how both are tricky cause representation is bad currently. I just kinda felt like barbies if they are each owned by one person and are subject to their life they could in like a long form arena of had an autistic barbie or just of had an autistic actor playing both the kid and the doll. But yeah the doll thing I get and I know there are so many other things with no representation so it might be a tad selfish of me to want an autistic barbie. I hope you have a great day and I had no idea that Walmart tried to do one that's shocking!!
Oooh I’m excited to see this! I’ve been awol from life and back to watching some UA-cam!
This was nice to see and hear what you have to say. As a visually impaired person, I didn't see any visually impaired or blind Barbie (i didn't see very many Barbies at all actually! LoL!) But as you mentioned, maybe there were more diaabled Barbies, we just couldn't see them. I know numerous people with invisible disabilities. I kinda like now the idea that there were numerous disabled Barbies they were just invisible disabilities. I wonder if the wheelchair Barbie did have a slightly larger role that was cut out. But even a simple "Hi Barbie" would have been a million times better, adding more substance for the character and more meaning to the viewers. I really loved this video. Im going to check out more.
I was just excited to see a wheelchair Barbie in the movie, didn't care she was only on screen for one scene
I think they missed out on a great opportunity to include visible disability and mobility aids in beauty/fashion standards. (They also missed out in including us in a potentially important message that invisibly/visibly disabled people are valuable whether we contribute to society in typical, extraordinary or no careers, which was a major theme through the movie that could have been so much more powerful if they centered it around a disabled Barbie tbh.)
Only other visible disability was stereotypical Barbie's flat feet and Ken seemed to have mild pectus excavatum. The only invisible one I heard being spoken of was depression.
Thank you :)
I grew up in the 90s and never seen any Barbies in wheelchairs. I hadn’t ever seen Barbie in a wheelchair until you showed your own Barbie in a wheelchair a while ago
I haven't seen the movie yet but have been meaning to. I like Becky dolls. As someone who mom was in a wheelchair I always thought Becky was just like everyone else. Becky is more what I think of as regular than Barbie.
When it comes to the smile thing I totally understand because I feel like I have to put a smile on my face all the time to not make people around me uncomfortable. I have had multiple encounters when people either give me a pitiful face or tell me to cheer up and give the a smile because my face can make OTHER PEOPLE feel sad and uncomfortable just because I’m not smiling and in a wheelchair.
I'm so happy to see your video! This has actually been on my mind the past few weeks. It seems they were checking off boxes, which isn't real inclusivity. Also, there was a Barbie with a prosthetic leg too! Still, no lines 😢
A real missed opportunity if they had an actress/extra with a prosthetic arm in the film but not getting her to do the “Hi Barbie” wave with her prosthetic. It would have been a second or two of screen time but an incredibly impactful one!
Different topic, but still on movies that came out this year and wheelchair representation: Sun Spider in Spider-Man across the spider-verse got a line and she gets a hit in on Miles during the big Spider-Man chase scene. She's not a major side character or anything, but I really liked her cameo and thought it was so sweet and well done (Sun Spider originated as a fan character, her inclusion feels like a big shout out to all the fans) I hooppee she's also in the sequel, but honestly I'm not sure. I'm not physically disabled, but I liked her cameo because 1) she totally kicks Miles' butt for a second and 2) it fits in with the overall "theme"? idk if theme is the right word, but as there's a lot of spider-men in the movie, so there's a lot of of diversity as well. Although she isn't a major character, it doesn't feel like a token character. From what I've seen she's been well received by the disabled community too,
14:13 plus, in terms of representation: My feet caaaan handle heels but they don't bend into the "heel shape" like "normal feet" so that´s why the "FlAT FEEEET" scream also stood out negatively for me :)
The wheelchair dolls are on Made To Move bodies so they're more than able to wear heels.
The "hate to flat feet" thing is actually an inside joke made for longtime fans and collectors as the start of using flat feet coincides with the downfall of Barbie as a brand. That was before wheelchair Barbie in the fashionistas line was even a thing.
But again, it has nothing to do with the flat shoes wheelchair dolls wear as they can wear high heels ☺️
Thanks!
Thank you for your support
School Photographer Barbie has a very nice outfit and hairstyle. lots of details
I have yet to see the Barbie movie but what I love is that there will be a wheelchair user with the same disability as I have in Doctor Who. I don't know whether it's going to be a main or side character but I think (and hope) she's going to be more important than just an "extra". There has already been a blind and a deaf actor and also an actress without one arm ad all of them were quite important characters I think. I think the show is doing a good job with this.
I think Dr Who has been good for representation. However, a lot of the disabled characters in Dr Who have been for a single episode and their disability is part of the plot. For example, the blind girl's father used her disability to trick her into thinking there were monsters outside. Or the deaf woman being able to lip read and therefore work out what the ghosts were saying.
I liked the fact that Dan's love interest was in multiple episodes and she was just included like any other character. It will be good to have a proper disabled character in the new episodes and I know that Ruth is a phenomenal actor who will do the role justice and push for the character to be more than just a token gesture.
It would be fantastic to see a disabled companion in the future! With multiple episodes and series they could properly flesh out the character as well exploring accessibility issues and coping mechanisms. For example, I don't think the Tardis doors can accommodate a wheelchair and there are a few steps in some versions of the console room. Or maybe the character could have a hidden or variable condition and be accused of faking it in an episode where they're having a good day or masking well.
I think the time has passed where we were ok with CRUMBS
As a disabled woman, I'm actually really REALLY glad that the barbie movie chose being actually entertaining and telling the story it wanted to tell over worrying about representation. Because entertaining and telling a story is literally its job. And it did its job very well, I must say. It was very entertaining and the story was pretty well put together. I had fun watching it. Good movie, simple as that.
When I grew, the girls around me had Cindy dolls. Not sure if Barbies were maybe expensive back then when I lived. If I'd had a wheelchair action man it would have been kitted out like the A-Team, capable of going as fast as Knight Rider, and aerobatic flying like Airwolf! 🙂 My daughter had a Barbie with wings (Can't remember if it was a genuine Barbie but wasn't cheap!), so there was one with super human abilities. I agree that dolls and toys need to represent the whole range of human types, shapes, sizes, and abilities to make it normal. No one should feel they need to hide away because they are different in some way.
The most annoying things about my childhood Barbies was their stiletto feet and those ubiquitous one-strap backless stiletto heels. An early set of sneakers "fitted" at a slant, which looked equally ridiculous. One or two pairs of shoes had a bit of a back and closed toes. I had Barbie dolls at a time when most women wore high heels for all dress-up occasions and even at work unless they did manual labor or factory work. Although born in 1955, I only wore stiletto heels as a child for dress up; I always thought they were ridiculous. For formal occasions, I sought out a lower and broader (tapered) heel, but I never wore true high heels.
I can’t even wear a low heel for too long or my feet get so sore I can barely walk, but I’ve never liked heels anyway so it’s not a loss!
Remind me of Barbie's friend Becky.
This is exactly what makes me want to make a video about this. I'm not a youtuber but have always wanted to be and maybe I should..
I was pretty surprised by how overly publicized they made wheelchair Barbie. I knew everyone was going to be disappointed. I saw the preview in January and saw the movie again during the preview Barbie blowout party. When I saw the preview initially I made sure to put in 'wheelchair Barbie got barely any screen time.' I saw the movie TWICE and had no idea there was a Barbie with a prosthetic until this video! Also in one of the last scenes of the movie you can see wheelchair Barbie is there for a few seconds.. can see the rim of her wheels.. and one of the main characters literally step in front of her to talk, completely blocking wheelchair Barbie out. It was so funny to me how they advertised wheelchair Barbie to be so huge but then we saw barely any of her, she got 1 line I think when all the Barbie's in unison said bye to stereotypical Barbie going out to the real world.
Yeah, tokenism at its best.
@@TheMazinoz yuuuuuup
Yes of course there should have been more!
I bought wheelchair Barbie for my granddaughter. She loves her and has named her Nanny Barbie 😊. Only yesterday my friend and I were discussing wearing heels. I have worn heels fir about 28 years. I don't own any. I now I question why? I love the look of heels and there is really no reason I couldn't wear them when using my chair as long as my feet sat comfortably safely on my footplates. I had honestly never even considered this before. My though process goes something like are the shoes slip and can I buy some with bling or sparkles. I may buy my self a ridiculous pair just because I can....
In her dance scene, I was so excited! Then didn't see her again. 😞 Come on, it's 2023. We can do better. We should do better. Maybe a Barbie with a cane. Or with forearm crutches. Lots of options!
Agree! Would love to see canes and walkers too
Why aren't they REAL casters on the toy chair - as in ones that spin? That chair will only be able to go in a straight line!
There should be a Gem Barbie!
There’s a Chelsea Barbie with a scoliosis brace too
wheel chair barbie has been in the real world looking into barbie world all her life that's why the flat feet, really relatable.
Do any Barbies have walking sticks/canes? Love to see them collab with NeoWalk!!
Oh also, why didn't Wheelchair Barbie have a Ken? I know I can't find a "Ken" because my last date said, "You are amazing, beautiful" bla bla bla "but I just can't date a cripple" It would have been nice to see in the movie Wheelchair Barbie with a Ken either Wheelchair Ken or other to show we date too, and we may need ramps or accessibility/sand friendly wheels, but we go out too. I have a lot of thoughts, but I love how you included the history. Did they have Wheelchair Barbie the movie for sale. They just put up Awkard Barbie. Anyways... you can tell I have a lot of thoughts.
I haven't seen the film, but they have a wheelchair Ken they could have included and have both wheelchair users be in a relationship (not necessarily with each other).
I think they need to make another barbie movie & give wheelchair barbie the main roll
I definitely think they should've committed to giving some of the other Barbies more lines and comedic banter, to demonstrate that "Barbie can be anyone".
Regarding the flat feet... yeah that definetly looks bad, but Mattel has been giving all Barbie's flat feet for a long time now, (earliest was in 1995) and people have been complaining about it since 2016. The Barbie Movie is definetly more reflective of 90s and 2000's Barbie sentiments and fashion, but with the modern diversity of Barbie. So it's not nessecarily a slight at the disabled Barbies, though definitely rings a little icky.
As for the discontinuation of Becky, doll lines spend about six months on the shelves before being cleared for new dolls. Basically, Mattel just decided to not bring her back for the next line, which while definitely a shame, seemed to make them rethink how they presented dolls with disabilities in a more thoughtful manner.
I don't find the foot thing to be a problem but it was a missed opportunity to have wheelchair Barbie make a well timed joke similar to Toph's jokes in Avatar i.e "We can't see a thing" Toph who is blind replies sarcastically "Oh what a nightmare" . LOL. I know there was a trans actor playing one of the Barbie's so I would have liked to see wheelchair Barbie be more prominent instead of seeming to be a bit behind other minorities especially since Barbie's brand and the movie director claim to be "inclusive". I always thought "Share a smile Becky" was the one who took photos and hence "smile" being in the name.
This !!!
I havnet seen the Movie yet. Only becauce of seating. Our cinimar is good with access. A lift , as its on upper level. Places for wheelchair and your carer/companion. 4 places for companions so you can have a family there. while i was at the .... using crutches stage.... i use to bum shuffle up the stairs. Im not too proud to do this, It was part of my life and how i had to manage everyday live and we always had a bit of a laugh. Some reaction were of shock but many many more people were offering to help carry me...... If there had been a fireman i would have said yes. .. But it meant good seats.
Since 2015 ive been wheelchair girlie. So my lovely son came with me to watch another film while hubby dog sa. Great space for about 4 wheelchairs each side of cinimar, helped with the usual keep giggling your chair until in just the right line. Comfy seat .... free... for my son. But , oh my giddy aunt. So close to screan i had to lean backwards. Just like you i have low back seat. So i had no support to do this. fortunatly a seat was spare next to my son and he shuffled accross and i took his seat. Thet fixed the problem. It does mean i will have to pay for myself and have a companion seat free of charge that i use. Thats not an issue for me but i could be taking up a place of someone who needs a wheelchair space. As for your video.. OMG. I never knew they did Barbie in wheelchair. I have sons and grandsons and brothers. Only girl along the way... So im looking forward to the film and will definatly be scanning for any other disabilities. Oh and the Barbie wheelchair you are showing. My front wheels are like that too. New disigns . They looked strange at firs but im use to them now. Thought bit quirky and only other wheelchair users notice..... ( sorry for so many spelling mistakes. ). So.. Roll on Barbie lets go party... lol... Hereford England.
1:08 The i in Bild is pronounced like the i in filled, not the one in filed. Bild is the German word for picture or likeness.
I never have one that look like me before but I'm willing that out. That would be cool if I get one
Being a middle aged, beer swilling, bald headed paraplegic man. I too find it difficult to wear pink high heels.
Current Fashionistas Barbies such as the Barbie you have in the video have ankle articulation so she can wear flats and heels.
❤❤❤
I really wanted a Barbie in a wheelchair, but I couldn't find one with a power wheelchair, very disappointed
Fingers crossed this will be a new Barbie one day! I am also a power chair user and I would love a Barbie in one!
@@BladeDaBunny hopefully
I hate when I see people tell wheel chair gals to smile. BUT, I do make a point of gayly smiling and saying 'Hiya' to anyone with any sort of disability. (I usually get a smile back ;) )
you are not alone i bought Becky 20 years ago and also I bought her now I always thought she had a nauseatingly ableist name
I never had a wheelchair barbie but I grew up with a Summer doll (one of barbie's friends) that had flat feet, so the wretching made me very uncomfortable
The wheelchair dolls are on Made To Move bodies so they're more than able to wear heels.
The "hate to flat feet" thing is actually an inside joke made for longtime fans and collectors as the start of using flat feet coincides with the downfall of Barbie as a brand. That was before wheelchair Barbie in the fashionistas line was even a thing.
But again, it has nothing to do with the flat shoes wheelchair dolls wear as they can wear high heels ☺️
I had (still have) the Photographer Becky. However, I was never into barbies or dolls of anykind (I was more a dinosaurs & pokemon kid), I recall playing with her only a few times and mostly only had fun picking up practical errors on her wheelchair 😂
Also, I feel like manual wheelchair is the "neat" choice for toy companies to choose if they have to make a disabled toy that uses a wheelchair. You literally never see a protagonist or a good support character using an electric wheelchair. If you see anything that resembles them, it's a an evil mad scientist using their evil mad movig cart thing or something. Which is a pity, since I know this is a direct reflection of the real world. The electric wheelchair is often seen as "too much", especially if you're a feminine person (I luckily was not, I loved to have my "quad" to race around while the other kids could just admire me while trying to keep up, I could carry everyone's stuff with no sweat, I also did neat stuff such as pulling my friends as a "train" on the ice when we had skating at PE lol). I've met people who would greatly benefit from the electric wheelchair, like it would really change their quality of life, but due to the stigma, they absolutely refuse to even consider it long as they can manage some other way. Some also prefer the sometimes impractical electric scooter to electric wheelchair, just bevause it looks "more normal" (I know that for some, the scooter is the only thing that works tho).
This all said, having just one doll using a manual wheelchair, doesn't speak for all of the people who need mobility aids. It's often just the easiest "lite" version of stereotypical disabled people. I know even using manual wheelchair is a huge deal to many people, however I feel like they should jump to the deep end of the pool and also give representation for the most stigmatized people.
When i was young (some 50-60 odd years ago) the TV soap Crossroads had a main character who was in a wheelchair - i don't know if he was played by an actor with a disability or not..
I saw the film at the Lakeside Vue but it I think I saw several wheelchairs dancing at the Barbie's girls party.
I loved my Share a smile Becky as a kid. My mom went out and got us all one, and my aunt had hers displayed in her china hutch as a wheelchair user at the time she was a big deal. But at the end of the day barbie is a toyline and they chose to discontinue her up til the fashionista line. It was far too long between releases imo
"Share a Smile" feels like the tagline from a children's charity supporting kids in wheelchairs. As an identity marker for a disabled character it's remarkably tone-deaf. We don't have to double down on Barbie's cheeriness this way. She wouldn't be given that moniker unless she was selling something - perhaps as a dentist or a Walmart greater. Women are done being told to shut up and smile and take care of others, and disabled women are doubly over being expected to sit around and inspire everyone around them, just because people find the reality of disability existing a downer.
The doll was actually part of a lineup of "share a smile" dolls which were encouraging friendship and acceptance which I think wheelchair Barbie fits in very well 💖
11 million disabled people in the UK 8% are wheelchair users 880,000 the world wide numbers are a lot higher but still few are seen in tv and movies. There is a group that’s a under a third in numbers in the UK that’s represented in almost every tv show and movie
Wheelchair Barbie is portrayed by Grace Harvey, and Prosthetic Arm Barbie is portrayed by Ashley Harvey 😁😁 both actresses are #actualdisabledrep. 💗💗, by Barbies!
They've come a long way since handicap Becky. Glad to see Barbie with a hearing aid
No barbie dolls have been made with a prosthetic arm, only their left leg is an option for prosthetic barbie.
I don’t understand the obsession with this particular film. Has there been this much concern and discussion about disability and representation in any other film this year?
Hi, the Weelchair Barbie you own and showing in the video does not have flat feet. That is the "Made to move" body and their feet are considered both pointed and flat and she can fit stilettos.
The „made to move“ Barbies can wear both high heels and flat shoes. Just fyi :)
I find it funny when able-bodied people or people in manual wheelchairs complain about representation. I always hear "I didn't see myself on TV" or I" felt like the only one" I came from a town of 1,200 people. I was literally the only person with a physical disability under 60 in the entire town. And top of that I have an electric wheelchair, a speech impairment, and I have drooling issues. When was the last time you've seen any one of those represented on TV? I'll accept just one for representation. For example, you talked in your video about how barbie has all different kinds of disabilities now but you didn't even mention the fact that there's no electric wheelchair barbie.. (As far as I know but I haven't done the research. When I was in 7th grade I got wheelchair Becky but even then I told my mom that it was a nice effort but it didn't really represent me. I got the photographer one and I was like that's cool and all but I only have arm that works so How could I be a photographer.
I think representation is good and I would love to see more. But someone is always going to be excluded. Unfortunately, that seems to be people like me. I applaud when an effort is made. Like I applaud the Barbie movie for including wheelchair barbie. But I don't expect to see myself represented any time soon. And I find it hilarious when people that are represented complain about not having enough representation
I’d love to see a a powerchair influencer or celebrity in a powerchair. I see loads with extreme physical impairments but if I wanna be glam and included it looks like you need a pink wheelchair , manual only. Honestly when I had manual wheelchair for shirt time ppl were fine but then I lost strength and needed power option now ppl can’t make eye contact, they assume I have intellectual disabilities straight away it’s a totally different vibe. I’m also deaf
She did mention that there's no power chair barbie and that there should be one...
I'd like to see representation of my chronic illnesses on TV but i dont think EDS and POTS makes for good entertaining content 😅 it would probably just get romanticized/sexualized.
Looking more carefully at Becky's clothing, I think we can do better. The smiley daisy shirt feels uninspired - like she got it free working for some disability children's' charity. IF that's the kind of role she must have, at least give her a nice, sparkly charity gala outfit - she should have that kinda visibility. If the goal is to keep things casual, I'd put more colour and fashion fun into the top-half garments and do something longer in the lower half, a longer fitted skirt, or interesting shorts or pants. That mini skirt with legging just really feels like she's having to try too hard to make sure nobody looks up her skirt and she added the pink leggings as an afterthought to fix that.
Don't forget the time the doll released and what fashion was worn back then! I can assure you there are all kinds of dolls with questionable fashion that was just very common back then 😅
Aside from that, the specific Becky doll you're talking about was part of a lineup to encourage friendship and acceptance, she wasn't the only one in the lineup 💖
Have you played Hogwarts Mystery? A potential friend of the MC (female/Male)- is someone who uses a wheelchair. But that's not ALL he is- he is also, a Qudditch commentor and is basically a chess master.
I haven't exactly seen the Barbie movie that I agree with you on that the wheelchair user Barbie needs a bigger part and also with you wearing that pink shirt and have long blonde hair that does make you like a wheelchair Barbie yourself.
I didn't see that comment as calling out ableist language... because mentally challenged is still kinda offensive (especially in the way she's using it)...I would have said "delusional" maybe because it's stating that she's removed from reality rather than insulting people with disabilities. Delusions can be a sign of a disorder but it doesn't have to be.
What's sad looking at the scene clip with wheelchair Barbie is that there would have been an easy, much more central, way to include her. Why not make her the DJ?! It's a lot easier to see that working ideally for an actual person with the disability the the school photographer role, where she'd often be unable to maneuver for the perfect shot or angle. Why did nobody give her that job in Barbie land? It's SO the obvious choice.
Good idea
But also, why can't she be a photographer? Isn't Barbie all about you can be anything