← The World in Images · The year 2026

Barbie with Autism – Marketing or Inclusion?

S5 · E39 · 02 Apr 2026 · 11 min

On TikTok, a girl unboxes her first "autistic" Barbie from Mattel. The doll is designed for social media and fits into the company's inclusive marketing strategy. But what does the product say about the current portrayal of this developmental disorder?