Call for Proposals: Special Issue on Barbie in Latin America

Deadline for Abstract Submissions: August 15, 2025
Edited by: Emily R. Aguiló-Pérez(West Chester University of Pennsylvania) and M. Paula Bontempo(National Science and Technology Research Council and the National University Arturo Jauretche)

Since her debut in 1959, Barbie has become a global icon, embodying both aspirational ideals and contested narratives of femininity, beauty, and consumerism. In Latin America, Barbie has played a particularly complex role, serving as a symbol of both globalization and local cultural adaptation. From the pink dream of Mattel’s marketing to the criticisms of Eurocentric beauty standards, Barbie has been embraced, adapted, resisted, and reimagined across the region. Yet, despite Barbie’s undeniable presence in Latin America, scholarship on her impact in the Americas has remained largely focused on the U.S. and Canada, overlooking the diverse ways in which she has been interpreted and engaged with in Latin American societies.

This special issue seeks to address this gap by examining the cultural, political, economic, and artistic dimensions of Barbie in Latin America. How has Barbie been received, modified, or rejected in different countries? What does Barbie reveal about gender, race, class, and national identity in Latin America? How have artists, writers, activists, and policymakers engaged with Barbie as a cultural text? We invite scholars across disciplines—including but not limited to cultural studies, gender studies, media studies, sociology, anthropology, history, childhood studies, Latin American studies, and art history—to explore the nuanced and multifaceted roles Barbie has played in the region.

Possible Topics Include (But are not limited to):

Marketing, Consumption, and Adaptation

• The history and marketing of Barbie in Latin America: localization vs. globalization

• Consumer culture and Barbie: how Latin American markets have influenced Mattel’s strategies

• Local adaptations and reinterpretations of Barbie in popular culture, including fashion and design

• The impact of Barbie on Latin American toy industries and the emergence of alternative dolls

• Barbie as a tool for childhood socialization and gender normativity

Children’s Play and Development

• How children in Latin America interact with and imagine Barbie in play

• Barbie’s influence on Latin American childhood development and gender role formation

• Educational uses of Barbie in Latin American classrooms and learning environments

• Parental perspectives on Barbie and its influence on children’s aspirations and values

Representation, Identity, and Social Norms

• Representations of Latin American identity in Mattel’s Barbie dolls, including ethnic and cultural depictions

• Barbie and race: Afro-Latinidad, indigeneity, and the politics of representation

• Barbie’s role in shaping gender norms and expectations of femininity and masculinity

• The influence of Barbie in childhood socialization and educational narratives on gender and success

• The impact of Barbie’s presence in government policies on gender representation and education

• Barbie religious imagery and/or Barbie and religious identity

Politics, Society, and Ideology

• Barbie as a symbol of consumer culture and neoliberalism in Latin America

• The intersection of Barbie with national identity and cultural pride in different countries

• Barbie and political discourse, including her role in shaping gendered political identities

• The influence of Barbie in Brazilian politics and her reflection in right-wing and left-wing cultural narratives

• Barbie and state-led nationalism in countries like Venezuela, Cuba, and Brazil

• Barbie as a neoliberal icon in contrast to socialist and populist movements in Latin America

• Barbie’s influence on government policies regarding gender representation and education

• Barbie in protest art and as a tool for political satire in Latin American movements

Artistic, Literary, and Media Engagements

• Barbie in Latin American literature, film, and visual arts

• Artistic reimaginings of Barbie in feminist, queer, and decolonial critiques

• Barbie as a muse for contemporary Latin American artists and designers

• Barbie and digital culture: Latin American social media trends, memes, and critiques

• Museum and exhibition studies: how Barbie has been presented in Latin American cultural institutions

Alternative Narratives and Counter-Histories

• The role of Barbie in LGBTQ+ communities and queer reimaginings of Barbie’s identity

• The role of Barbie in feminist, queer, or decolonial critiques

• Barbie as a site of resistance and subversion: narratives from indigenous and marginalized communities

• Alternative doll cultures and responses to Barbie in the region, including local toy brands 

Social Media and Digital Engagement

• The role of Barbie in Latin American influencer culture and brand collaborations

• Barbie in Latin American TikTok and YouTube content: parody, nostalgia, and critique

• The impact of the movie Barbie (2023) on Latin American social media discourse

• Memes, fan art, parodies, and digital reimaginings of Barbie in the region

• News outlets and news media reporting on Barbie lines and/or the Barbie brand

Engagement with Barbie Beyond the Doll

• Barbie-themed experiences, events, and exhibitions in Latin America

• Barbie fashion collaborations with Latin American designers

• Barbie-branded media, books, and entertainment targeting Latin American audiences

• The impact of Barbie video games and digital content in Latin American markets

Fashion and Beauty

• Barbie’s impact on Latin American beauty standards and ideals of femininity

• The influence of Barbie on Latin American beauty standards and cosmetic industries

• The influence of Barbie on Latin American fashion trends and designers

• Barbie’s representation in Latin American beauty pageants and modeling industries

• The relationship between Barbie and cosmetic industries in Latin America, including plastic surgery trends

• Barbie as an inspiration for fashion subcultures and alternative aesthetics in the region

Submission Guidelines:

Abstracts of 300-500 words, along with a short biography (150 words), should be submitted by August 15, 2025 to botheaguilo@wcupa.eduandpaubontempo@yahoo.com.ar. Use the subject line: Barbie in Latin America.

Full articles of approximately 8,000 words will be requested from selected contributors after September 1, 2025. 

We welcome proposals that offer original research, innovative theoretical perspectives, and interdisciplinary approaches. Contributions in Spanish, English, and Portuguese are encouraged. This special issue aims to foster critical dialogues on Barbie’s place in Latin America and expand our understanding of the region’s unique engagement with this global cultural icon.

For any inquiries, please contact eaguilo@wcupa.edu and paubontempo@yahoo.com.ar.

*We have approached various journals who have expressed interest. These journals require submission of selected abstracts (or even full articles) in order to formally propose the special issue. 

We look forward to your submissions!