The Canadian press
employees
Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa holds her Barbie likeness in Toronto’s Discovery District in an undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS / HO-Visual Bass, Tobias Wang
TORONTO –
Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa remembers that as a young girl she disguised her Barbies as doctors, poets and performers, but none of the dolls looked like the woman she wanted to be.
Now the Canadian doctor, spoken word poet and lawyer is not only living out her childhood dreams, but also having a Barbie made in her own image.
Oriuwa hopes that creating a one-of-a-kind doll that celebrates success will show children that there is no limit to their play and potential.
« The nice thing about this opportunity is that Barbie is a black doctor made in my own image, » said Oriuwa, resident psychiatrist at the University of Toronto.
« That really speaks to my core value and my fundamental belief that you can really become anything and really occupy any space and thrive. »
Oriuwa is one of six women who inspired Mattel’s special Barbie collection, honoring health workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis.
Among the scientists being celebrated are British vaccinologist Sarah Gilbert, who helped develop the Oxford AstraZeneca Jab, and Brazilian biomedical researcher Dr. Jaqueline Goes de Jesus, who is credited with sequencing the genome of a COVID-19 variant in Brazil.
Only one doll was made for each of the real « role models » and is not for sale, said a Mattel spokeswoman.
The 27-year-old has spoken openly about the discrimination she faced as the only black student in her class during her freshman year of medical school in 2016 and has helped fuel efforts to diversify the program >
She was the first black woman to be selected as the sole farewell speaker for the University of Toronto Medical School after graduating last year.
At a young age, Oriuwa said she had resisted the « subconscious message » that she did not fit into the form of working in the medical field.
Even as she lived out her adult fantasies with Barbies, Oriuwa said the brand doesn’t have many black dolls, especially those with her skin tone and afro-textured hair.
« Not only did I not necessarily have a barbie who looked like myself in the area I wanted to pursue, but I didn’t know any black doctors at all until much later in life, » she said.
« It would have been so important to me to have a barbie who can really help make more of my dreams come true and let me know that it really is something that is tangible. »
Oriuwa worked with the Barbie team to design a doll that accurately reproduced her facial features, complete with medical accessories such as a white coat and stethoscope.
« Part of it also changes the way a doctor looks, » she said.
« I really wanted to send this message back to the younger generation of girls to inspire them and let them know that any one of them can fill this field or whatever field they aspire to. »
The British professor Sarah Gilbert holds a Barbie doll made from her image. (Andy Paradise / Mattel via AP)
Track every case of COVID-19 in Canada
Coronavirus Vaccination Tracker: How Many People in Canada Have Vaccinations?
How are classrooms kept safe? PHAC says back to school guidelines are coming
Delta variant « very worrisome » as it becomes more widespread across America: PAHO
WHO calls for a break in booster vaccinations to vaccinate poorer countries
Feds say more than 82,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine will be sent to Trinidad and Tobago
Premier supports Alberta’s top doctor and defends Alberta’s response to the surge in COVID-19 cases
Canadian Medical Association, Nurses Association Call for Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccines for Health Care Workers
Capacity limits for companies, mask requirement for indoor spaces ends in Manitoba from Saturday
What should I know about the Delta variant?
In an interview with Biden, Trudeau talks about trade, border collaboration and Olympic football
Delta is spreading « like wildfire » as doctors investigate whether it makes patients sicker
China orders mass testing in Wuhan as the COVID-19 outbreak spreads
Chase variants of the novel coronavirus in Canada
Full coverage at CTVNews.ca/Coronavirus
Keywords:
