A mother from Brisbane, Australia has created a special kind of breastfeeding Barbie doll that she hopes will break the stigma against public breastfeeding. Betty Strachan, a 28-year-old mother of two kids, said that she was inspired to make the dolls while surrounded by breastfeeding women in her mommy group.
Betty Strachan created Mamas Worldwide Barbie, a line of breastfeeding Barbie dolls with accessories that she sells on her shop at Etsy. Most of her sales come from mothers who have children who use the dolls as a play and teaching tool.
"I realized that it was really something that should be available," she told Huffington Post, noting that there is a lack of breastfeeding doll options in the market. "Because, like most things that society deems unacceptable, educating children is the way to erase the stigma behind it," she added.
On her Etsy page, Betty Strachan states that she has seen the effects of her doll creations in children. She also customizes other dolls with different skin color, hair and appearance. She has also created a pregnant Barbie doll.
A photo posted by Betty S (@allthelittledolls) on Oct 19, 2016 at 4:35pm PDT
The emergence of Betty Strachan's customized breastfeeding Barbie dolls comes at a time when public breastfeeding continues to draw hostile reactions from the public. It is not only regular women who have been shamed for it. Even celebrities are not immune to the criticisms and judgement when they are seen nourishing their baby. These celebrity moms have actually taken a stand about breastfeeding being the most natural act and thus it must be normalized, as Parent Herald previously reported.
What do you think of Betty Strachan's breastfeeding Barbie dolls? Would you be willing to have one for your child as well? Sound off in the comments below!
