Miami, March 8 The company Mattel is celebrating International Women’s Day with seven Barbie dolls inspired by as many women who have made careers in science and technology, such as the Wojcicki sisters and Katya Echazarreta, the first Mexican to travel to space.

The Wojcickis family—Susan, CEO of YouTube, Anne, CEO of home DNA testing company 23andMe, and Janet, professor of pediatrics and epidemiology at the University of California, San Francisco—each have their own Barbie.

Also engineer and presenter of scientific dissemination program Katya Echazarreta (Mexico); space scientist and educator Maggie Aderin-Pocock (UK); microbiologist and marine researcher Antje Boetius (Germany) and co-founder of ETU’s science education program Yinuo Li (China).

This series of dolls aims to show girls that they have “limitless potential” and to interest them in educational and professional fields where women are a minority.

Women represent less than a third of the workforce in science and technology (STEM in English) fields, Mattel said in a statement released on the occasion of Women’s Day.

“Barbie is dedicated to demonstrating female role models of all backgrounds, professions and nationalities so women everywhere can see themselves in careers that don’t always seem accessible,” said Lisa McKnight, executive vice president and global head of Barbie & Dolls by Mattel. .

“STEM is a field where women are disproportionately represented and our hope is that honoring these seven leaders in science and technology will encourage women to follow their passion in this field,” she added.

Anne Wojcicki, co-founder and CEO of 23andMe, said she was honored to celebrate International Women’s Day this year “with Barbie alongside my family and other strong women in STEM leadership roles.”

“I hope that by sharing our stories we encourage young women to try something new, face something that might scare them, and see challenges as exciting opportunities,” she said.

Her sister Janet says she knows from experience that “role models are so important for young women to see what’s possible. Early in my career, I struggled to find inspirational stories from other women who excelled in STEM, and especially epidemiology.” “.

“Growing up, I never imagined I would have a career in technology,” says Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube.

“My sister and I found jobs we love and discovered how creative and fulfilling careers in STEM can be for women,” she adds.

In addition to the dolls, Mattel makes a short video with Susan Wojcicki for YouTube in which the board answers questions about empowerment and shares lessons she’s learned.

Plus, Barbie pays tribute to all the women who inspire others through a special episode of the You Can Be Anything Barbie series.

As part of its commitment to “level the playing field for girls globally”, Barbie founded the Barbie Dream Gap Project in 2018, a multi-year global initiative created to raise awareness of the factors that prevent girls from reaching their full potential.

Since launching, the brand has committed over $1.5 million through the project. EFE

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