#26: The Teen Talk Barbie

The Teen Talk Barbie doll, launched in 1992, aimed to engage young girls in conversation by featuring a voice chip that uttered phrases like “Math class is tough!” However, it faced discontinuation due to criticisms and concerns about reinforcing harmful gender stereotypes. The phrase “Math class is tough!”, among others, drew significant backlash as it perpetuated the stereotype that women were less capable than men in STEM subjects.

This controversy, coupled with growing awareness about promoting positive and empowering role models for children, led to the discontinuation of Teen Talk Barbie’s original voice chip. In response to public scrutiny, Mattel issued an apology and replaced the controversial phrases in subsequent versions of the doll. The Teen Talk Barbie incident underscored the importance of responsible marketing and product design in shaping societal attitudes and expectations.