Math is hard? Not anymore: Barbie takes on engineering

Computer Engineer BarbieThere are bound to be tons of announcements out of Toy Fair this week (people seem awfully excited about Hasbro’s new AT-AT.) But what I personally find most interesting is a computer engineer Barbie. On the one hand, I was surprised that Mattel hasn’t gone there already, and that it took a “popular vote” to get her there. (The “girls vote” went to ‘news anchor.’) On the other hand… I’m not surprised at all. Not even that her laptop is pink. But a step is a step, right?

Wait a minute:

“Girls who discover their futures through Barbie will learn that they – just like engineers – are free to explore infinite possibilities, and that their dreams can go as far as their imaginations take them,” said Nora Lin, President, Society of Women Engineers. “As a computer engineer, Barbie will show girls that women can design products that have an important and positive impact on people’s everyday lives, such as inventing a technology to conserve home energy or programming a newborn monitoring device.”

Baby monitors. Not that there’s something wrong with baby monitors, but how does that even make the top ten of exciting things to do with computers? Aim for the stars, girls!

3 Replies to “Math is hard? Not anymore: Barbie takes on engineering”

  1. This doll may make my must have list for the coming year…mainly because her ultimate fashion blonde meets ultimate nerd vibe is SO much like my best friend.

  2. yeah, I’ll admit it: I want one.

    But baby monitors and home energy efficiency? c’mon. I know what home needs some efficiency: the ISS. Or the lunar lab, whenever we get one set up.

    My brother has a t-shirt press. I’m kind of tempted to use it to make a line of Barbie geek wear now.

  3. Well, energy conservation is a growing area, so I can see how that would apply, even if verges on the home-and-babies thing. But are baby monitors really a huge growth industry for computer engineers?

    ThinkGeek should totally make a pack of some Barbie-size versions of their ladies tee line.

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