Hijarbie: one small step for Barbie, one very large step for cultural acceptance

Barbie can be anything and do everything, even as a hijab-wearing Muslim.

Nigerian medical scientist Haneefa Adam, 24, has created a new line of Barbies targeted for the Muslim girls of the world.

In a recent article, “Hijarbie: How Barbie got a Muslim makeover” written by Stephanie Busari for CNN, Adam said, "I thought I had not seen Barbie dressed in a hijab before, so I decided to open an Instagram account and dressed Barbie up in the clothes that I made. I thought it was really important for a doll to be dressed like how I would be."

Adams, who hand-makes every design on her page, told CNN she also wants more diversity in her dolls. "I couldn't find the different types in Nigeria. I'd have loved to dress up a black doll myself too. I've ordered for some internationally and they'll soon be here.”

The “Hijarbie” account now has over 46,700 followers on Instagram and is receiving an overwhelming amount of requests to buy the dolls from places all around the world.

Junior Kate Moyer said, “A little girl like me might not pick a Hijarbie out, but parents could show their kids these toys to preach acceptance.”

In her interview with CNN, Adams said a popular misconception she wants to clarify is that Muslim women who wear the hijab are not “oppressed.”

“Equality and acceptance are really in right now, but I don’t think Barbie will go bankrupt,” Moyer said on the competition between the new curvy Mattel dolls, Barbie and now, Adams’ Hijarbie.

Adams told CNN that the Hijarbie has roots in her culture and religion. “The way Barbie dresses is very skimpy and different and there's nothing wrong with it. I just wanted to give another option for Muslim girls like me.”

“As I was growing up in Pakistan, a lot of people used to dislike the classic Barbie because of their western clothing,” said Hamza Khan, a Muslim senior at Central York. “I think everyone can be represented and everyone should be represented because everyone else should know about different religions and cultures and what they are about.” Khan said that he respects the Hijarbie because it represents his religion and because he grew up with a mother who wore a hijab.

Adams said that along with the amount of positive feedback she is getting on Instagram, she is also getting a lot of negative comments.

"People think that when Muslim women cover up, they are forced to. [The] majority of us are not," Adams told CNN. "We want to cover up and express our religion. A lot of Muslims don't cover their hair, but it doesn't make them any less of a Muslim.”

“I want my children to have popular toys that are similar to them so they don't feel like they're abnormal or think they're ‘different’ in a bad way.” said Afrah Howlader, a Muslim junior. Howlader said that Hijarbies are a monumental step in eliminating discrimination in children's toys.

“Everyone can be represented,” Howlader said. “It just takes one person to deviate from the norm to spark change. Now I feel represented and I hope that girls like me will get to experience that feeling their entire childhood.”

She added, “This is one action that moves toward defeating hateful rhetoric. This one change will have a big impact on the upcoming generation that has dealt with unfounded discrimination their entire lives.”

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