How ethnically diverse were your barbies?

"Not very diverse. I only received barbies as gifts at birthday parties, I think when your parents invite over their friends to their 8-year-old's birthday party they just assume to get a white girl a white barbie."

-Erin, 19, Caucasian and Native American, heterosexual female from San Fransisco, USA

Who bought you your Barbies?

"My parents and family members mostly, but my friends and I always bought each other dolls for birthday presents too."


-Maureen, 20, Caucasian, gay female from Oregon, USA

Was there any particular Barbie you asked for specifically?

"I specifically remember wanting a Barbie that came out in...probably 1995 or 1996? A Barbie in a wheelchair. I wanted this Barbie very badly because, as a child, I was very concerned with having a widely diverse population of Barbies. However, my mom apparently thought I shouldn't have this Barbie because, even though I asked for it for my birthday AND Christmas and also showed it to my mother every time we were in the store, I never got it. (Of note, my mother also generally refused to buy me Barbies of color, even though I asked. I had to recruit friends and extended family members to get me these dolls.)"


-Glenda, 24, Caucasian, queer female from Connecticut, USA