An Online Group Is Pushing Barbie To Go Bald For Cancer Awareness
By: Melissa Mahadeo
Updated: January 11, 2012
For the second time in a row Isabel Bonilla is undergoing chemo therapy and for the second time in a row she has lost all of her hair.
"Losing that is very tragic. It is uncomfortable and they don't feel beautiful," child life therapist Amy Peck said. "She has told me before 'I am not pretty, I am ugly.'"
So when Peck heard about a facebook movement asking Mattel to make a cancer barbie, she was all smiles.
Peck said children have a tendency to play with dolls they can relate to.
"Very seldom do you see a girl that has blonde hair and blue eyes pick a doll that has brown hair and brown eyes.It is just natural to pick a doll that looks like you," Peck said.
There are White, Asian and Hispanic dolls. There are barbies that skateboard or that love science.
So why not one that can really make a difference?
'If you can have a doll that looks like you, you can maybe imagine that the doll is going through what you are going through," Peck said.
And if Mattel does make her, Peck has one more essential request.
"I just hope they give the doll a port," she said. "To be able to access a doll's port, in their mind, that would be great therapeutic play."
The group is also reaching out to Disney and other doll companies in case Mattel chooses not to make the barbie.
If you would like to join the movement by "liking" the facebook page, you can do so at http://www.facebook.com/BeautifulandBaldBarbie.
"Losing that is very tragic. It is uncomfortable and they don't feel beautiful," child life therapist Amy Peck said. "She has told me before 'I am not pretty, I am ugly.'"
So when Peck heard about a facebook movement asking Mattel to make a cancer barbie, she was all smiles.
Peck said children have a tendency to play with dolls they can relate to.
"Very seldom do you see a girl that has blonde hair and blue eyes pick a doll that has brown hair and brown eyes.It is just natural to pick a doll that looks like you," Peck said.
There are White, Asian and Hispanic dolls. There are barbies that skateboard or that love science.
So why not one that can really make a difference?
'If you can have a doll that looks like you, you can maybe imagine that the doll is going through what you are going through," Peck said.
And if Mattel does make her, Peck has one more essential request.
"I just hope they give the doll a port," she said. "To be able to access a doll's port, in their mind, that would be great therapeutic play."
The group is also reaching out to Disney and other doll companies in case Mattel chooses not to make the barbie.
If you would like to join the movement by "liking" the facebook page, you can do so at http://www.facebook.com/BeautifulandBaldBarbie.
