There's a new Barbie in town and she can serenade and maybe play instruments, mi gente! In fact, she's Latina! Her name is Mariachi Barbie and she's making her debut just in time for Hispanic Heritage Month. She's actually not the first "Mexican Barbie" to hit the scene. Remember her predecessor from last year? Last year's Mexican Barbie got quite a few people's chonies in a bunch because at first glance she seemed laughably stereotypical with a bright pink traditional-ish Mexican costume, a chihuahua as a pet and a passport in hand, so we would all know she wasn't undocumented.
I'm kidding about the passport although many were not! Mexican Barbie is part of the Dolls of the World collection and all the Dolls of the World have passports because that's how they roll. Now, Mariachi Barbie is different …
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You would think that with all the alboroto around Mexican Barbie that Mattel would shy away from making another Mexican doll, but nope, they had the cojones to make Mariachi Barbie and I'm glad they did and I'll tell you why.
I've said it before and I will say it again, I am not a fan of Barbie in general. If it were up to me, Barbie would not live in our home. However, my daughter seems to be making good friends with this doll. And although I can be quick to take offense at certain things, I must say I'm not at all offended by Mariachi Barbie. I don't have any desire to feel indignant or upset at her creation. Why? Because she's Mariachi Barbie, porDios! Female mariachis are all kinds of awesome and empowering as far as I'm concerned. Sheesh! I hope that Mattel comes out with a whole band of Mariachi Barbies so that my daughters can play with an all-female Mariachi Barbie band as I blast mariachi music on the stereo and irritate my kids with my best gritos.
In my eyes, Mariachi Barbie kicks last year's Mexican Barbie's pompis. Mexican Barbie was not specific, she was trying to represent an entire country with stereotypical shortcuts that although not meant to be offensive, still managed to offend some, whereas Mariachi Barbie is specific. She's wearing a traditional mariachi costume trimmed in gold and she looks good in it! She's representing a part of Mexican culture. I think it works in a Barbie-ish way.
Listen, as I said, I'm not a fan of Barbie, but if my kids are going to play with Barbie anyway, then I have to say that Mariachi Barbie is welcome en mi casa.
Images via Mattel
