Mattel’s autistic Barbie matters more than you think

Mattel’s autistic Barbie matters more than you think

When Mattel introduced its new Barbie with autism last month, it did something deceptively simple and quietly powerful: It reflected the real world back to children. For decades, Barbie has been both celebrated and debated. But some things about her have never changed: She is a master at reinvention, and she is everywhere. Barbie is more than a novelty plaything — she’s the doll that kids spot in the toy aisle, beg to buy, and bring back home to…