A mother visiting Walmart to buy her daughter a Black Barbie discovered that the store only stocked dolls with disabilities. In a video shared by TikTok user @praylivingthislife, which has racked up 1.8 million views, she explained that the available Black Barbies were either blind or diabetic.
“Now, why they do this? I’m trying to find my baby, you know, some dolls with some color… but she’s diabetic and her sugar a little bit high,” she said, highlighting her frustration while picking up a blind Barbie.
Why the Limited Selection?
Walmart carries a wide range of Barbies online—Mattel offers 35 skin tones, 97 hairstyles, and nine body types—but in-store selections may be limited due to high demand or stocking priorities. Historically, white Barbies have been treated as the “standard,” making them more consistently available in stores. In 2020, about 68% of Mattel’s dolls were white.
Diversity dolls, including those with disabilities, are sometimes stocked in sublines rather than in the main line, meaning not every store receives a full selection of able-bodied Black Barbies.
Reactions and Context
Some viewers pointed out the value of disabled dolls for children who relate to them. One commenter said, “My daughter got the blind Barbie for her birthday… She loves having Barbies that represent loved ones in her life.” Others acknowledged the rarity of certain dolls but agreed stores could improve variety.
@praylivingthislife clarified that her concern wasn’t with the disabled dolls themselves, but that she couldn’t find a Black Barbie resembling her daughter. She said, “There’s nothing wrong with showing diversity, but this one blind and they just don’t have any, well Black baby dolls… Ain’t nobody well over here if you’re black.”
The situation underscores the need for retailers and manufacturers to ensure that all children can find dolls that reflect them, whether able-bodied or not.
Walmart, Mattel, and @praylivingthislife have been contacted for comment.
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