In celebration of International Women's Day, which lands on Saturday, March 8th, Barbie wants to honor female friendship. In doing so, Barbie is introducing new Olympic-inspired dolls, featuring Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey, members of the United States Gymnastics team. Mattel made Barbie dolls inspired in their likeness. Teamwork and friendship play an integral role in the mental and emotional preparation for such an incredible event. Barbie is also collaborating with best-selling author Dr. Marissa Franco as a way to show girls how to make and hold on to lifelong friendships.
Regardless of the conflicting narratives portrayed in television shows and movies, or even real-life media that likes to pin women against each other, real-life friendships between women can become the most important bond in a girl or woman's life. Female friends can become the people you discuss some of your deepest thoughts with, who can also pick you back up with a joke and discussion of empowerment. Friendship can be the most important relationship a person ever has. Making that bond young also allows your relationship to grow over time, to the point where friends can see the changes in each other that have taken place over the years. Female friendships can be important for personal and professional lives. Besides, it can always be a benefit to have someone to celebrate with when things are great or confide in when things get hard.
Other female duos that Barbie is empowering through this initiative include the British actresses Hannah Waddingham and Juno Temple, Australian tennis players Evonne Goolagong Cawley and Ash Barty, AO, and the Brazilian pair Paola Antonini and Kelen Ferreira who became close after Paola Antonini played a character inspired by a real-life event that changed Kelen Ferreira's life. Barbie recognizes that women supporting women can result in a positive result professionally, as well as personally. Barbie does not just want to show girls that they can be anything they want to be, but they can also support other girls in their strive to be anything they want. Barbie is also showing their support for the initiative through the animated event, Barbie & Teresa: Recipe for Friendship, which is available on Netflix on Thursday, March 6th.
Examples of fictional female friendships include Thelma and Louise, Meredith and Cristina from Grey's Anatomy, Bridget, Carmen, Lena, and Tibby from The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Rosa Diaz and Amy Santiago from Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and Olivia Baker and Layla Keating-Baker from All American. While many of these pairings and more have their highs and lows, there is an understanding that many of these female friendships have a sturdy foundation that allows them to do anything, from spending a lot of time together to separating in different directions and still having a developed, impactful, and loving friendship. Check out Mattel's website to see which female friendship dolls best represent the relationships that connect with you. Join in on the excitement and love that comes with the support and joy of female friendship and empowerment.