A new petition is calling on toymaker Mattel to sell a Truck Driver Barbie as a way to teach young girls about career opportunities in the trucking industry.
The petition was launched by CDL driver recruitment company TransForce as part of their “Barbies in Trucking” campaign, which calls on Mattel to introduce a Truck Driver Barbie in their toy lineup.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the petition has reached nearly 700 signatures.
You can click here to view or sign the Change.org petition.
TransForce says that the campaign for a Truck Driver Barbie is all about breaking gender stereotypes and encouraging girls from a young age to consider careers in the transportation industry.
“For decades, Barbie has been a symbol of empowerment for young girls, demonstrating through various professions that they can aspire to be anything they set their minds to. From soaring the skies as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force to exploring outer space as an astronaut and racing around tracks as a car driver, Barbie has been an inspiration for generations. However, one crucial profession Barbie has yet to explore is truck driving. Recognizing women’s significant role in the trucking industry, where they currently make up 14% of the workforce, TransForce aims to highlight women’s contributions to the industry and inspire young girls to consider careers in transportation,” TransForce said in a news release.
“We believe that by introducing a Truck Driver Barbie, we can send a powerful message to young girls that the transportation industry welcomes and values their contributions,” said Kelly McGurk, VP of Revenue Marketing at TransForce. “Whether behind the wheel of a box truck, a big rig, or seated behind a desk as a CEO, the possibilities in the trucking industry are endless. We want Barbie to represent one of America’s most essential workers – a Truck Driver.”