Nerd Barbie Looks Nothing Like One.

Did you know Mattel  has released 125 Career Barbies?  To bring it up to 126, the newest one is Computer Engineering Barbie, supposedly "geek chic."

I guess it's the glasses that automatically make her nerdy?  Or is it the "binary code" tee that she's sporting?  Either way, I seriously doubt that many girls going for electrical engineering majors are decked out like this.  In fact, I don't know one person--computer nerd or otherwise--who would be caught dead in that white vest with teal lapels and hot pink piping! 

I had to check out a list of all of the Career Barbies that have been made over the years, and the list is kind of disappointing.  Sure, you've got a zoologist and a paleontologist on there; you've got your healthcare professionals and teachers; you've got a slew of military Barbies.  But while you've got more than one version of a secretary, there are no lawyers or judges, which is a bit sad.   It wouldn't be that hard to design an Honorable Barbie doll wearing a black robe with a stylish outfit underneath.  She could come with a gavel and a bench.

This all made me a little nostalgic for the one Career Barbie that we did have growing up:  Day-to-Night Barbie.  I can't remember if she was mine or Karie's, but we LOVED that doll.  The scarf and the snazzy white hat must have been lost early on, because I don't have much of a memory of them.  And I know that her hair quickly lost its polished look after too much brushing with that small, rough plastic Barbie brush.  But the briefcase, velveteen jacket, earrings...they were part of our Barbie empire for a long time.

By the way, the "day-to-night" aspect of the doll basically just meant that after a long, hard day at work, Barbie could take off the jacket to go meet her friends or beau for a few drinks, wearing the satiny camisole and the velveteen skirt.  The box never told us what career she was supposed to have.  Maybe it's better that way because little girls can use their imaginations.

If you're interested, this is a pretty little list of every career Barbie has had through the years.