Since her in début 1959 as a teenage fashion model, Barbie has held down a number of demanding jobs – from becoming one of the first female astronauts in the early 1960’s to playing as a professional basketball player in the late 1990’s. Now Barbie has joined many of her fellow female professionals into the world of IT by becoming a computer engineer.
Modern Outfit
With a modern outfit which includes black leggings, a smart fitted jacket and computer themed, pink trimmed top, the ensemble is complimented with a host of techy accessories including a Bluetooth headset, pink glasses, a large format wrist watch and, of course, a pink laptop.
Public Vote
Barbie’s new career move has come about as a result of a public vote held by manufacturers Mattel. Barbie fans around the world on Facebook and Twitter were asked to help her with the decision and most opted for the choice of a career in IT.
Authenticity
To ensure her new look accurately reflected such an occupation Mattel worked closely with the Society of Women Engineers and the National Academy of Engineering to ensure that the image was realistic and representative of how a real female computer engineer might look.
Nora Lin, President, Society of Women Engineers said:
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.
Girls interested in a career within the computer industry will be able to access a special area on the official Barbie website to learn more about the opportunities available.
The Barbie Computer Engineer doll will be available to buy at towards the end of 2010.