Up and Coming Barbie Rivals on the Market | Dolls

No icon is safe from the intrusion of rivals, and sadly Barbie is no exception.  Granted, she has been the reason for millions of women around the globe to start collections and lovingly display their treasures on shelves.  She has been the fodder of books, magazines, articles, and even movies. She has caused Internet sites to be created, adorned, and hosted.  She reigns supreme at conventions, clubs, swap meets, and on EBay.  Yet in little girls’ rooms all over the world she is in constant danger of being toppled.  There Barbie only reigns as long as her marketing department does its job, touting her as the coveted toy de jour, and strategically beating down and out the competition. 

Yet Barbie has not been completely successful in eradicating her competition, and subsequently there are some up and coming Barbie rivals on the market today. Will these rivals take over the bedrooms of young girls who will turn into young women and forget all about collecting their precious Barbies?  Are Barbie’s days numbered?  Only time will tell; for the time being, she will need to look out for her rivals.

Take for example the almost ubiquitous Bratz dolls. The brainchildren of MGA Entertainment, these dolls lack the dainty elegance of Barbie and her charming smile.  Instead, they have an attitude that would make a rapper proud, clothes that expose where moms would like their daughters to cover up, and faces that hint at long nights living it up.  Coupled with accessories that would make even Barbie envious, the Bratz dolls have it all.  In addition to the foregoing, Bratz paraphernalia can now be found everywhere – from lamps to hamster cages and aquariums. Some wagging tongues claim that they represent the America Barbie has forgotten about – the multiracial, multicultural, changing with the times country that is Barbie’s homestead as well.  Yet others find that Bratz lack that which made Barbie the staple of an entire culture: class.

Of course, Barbie’s rivals are not limited simply to Bratz.  As a matter of fact, competition comes from her own stable, where Mattel’s Polly Pocket dolls are scoring huge points with younger girls everywhere.  Smaller than Barbie, easier to haul around, packed in attractive carrying cases, and with more accessories than you can shake a stick at, Polly Pocket dolls are almost smaller versions of Barbie-like play, fun, and fashionable activities. Who would have thought that a dagger would emanate from Barbie’s own home base and undercut her popularity to fashion starved kids everywhere?  Polly Pocket dolls may lack the vast amount of accessories that used to be a Barbie domain, yet their size makes them so versatile that many other doll accessories and furniture will allow them to fit right in.  Barbie was never that adaptable!

Another corner from which Barbie is facing some stiff competition is Disney.  In addition to all the characters that Disney has introduced over time into the bedrooms of little girls, the highly coveted Princesses line is just another nail in Barbie’s coffin. The princesses are so similar to Barbie, that at times it might almost appear too hard to tell them apart.  Complete with accessories, these dolls not only have class and endless clothing supplies – much like Barbie – but unlike Barbie they satisfy little girls’ needs for fantasy play that involves unicorns, princesses, dragons, and castles. Doctor Barbie might be a wonderful stride for women’s movements anywhere, but there are very few little girls out there who will pick her above and beyond a fairy princess doll that rides into the sunset on a unicorn.

It is hard to fathom that someone or something will at some point topple Barbie from the pedestal she has had a stronghold on for so long.  As a matter of fact, it is downright eerie to think that thousands of doll collection will at some point remain homeless because the next generation might have lost interest in them.  Of course, it is highly unlikely that this will ever happen.  After all, while Bratz dolls may have an attitude that may briefly endear them to young girls who are beginning to chip away at the apron strings; it is highly doubtful that these dolls will continue to capture their imaginations and affection for any time after independence has been achieved.