Research shows that starting at age 5, many girls develop self-limiting beliefs and begin to think they’re not as smart and capable as boys. They stop believing their gender can do or be anything. This is called the Dream Gap, and to help close it, Barbie launched the Dream Gap Project in 2018. This ongoing global initiative gives girls the resources and support they need to continue believing in themselves. Check below to see how you can get involved too!
Mattel, Inc. announced this week that Barbie® is partnering with the world’s largest and most trusted social fundraising platform GoFundMe to empower people and partners to help close the Dream Gap, the time* when girls start to doubt they can be anything.
Timed to the one-year anniversary of the launch of the Barbie Dream Gap Project, the company also unveiled the first non-profit recipients of the program’s fund.
Donors can take action on closing the Dream Gap by visiting Barbie Dream Gap Project GoFundMe page. The GoFundMe page outlines the Barbie Dream Gap Project and includes a general fund in partnership with GoFundMe.org, the social fundraising site’s non-profit and advocacy arm, where donors can support the overall initiative or selected nonprofit organizations.
The GoFundMe program builds on Mattel’s Barbie Dream Gap Project, which pledged $250,000 in donations through the Mattel Children’s Foundation™ earlier this year. These grants are being distributed to the following nonprofit recipient organizations:
She’s the First, which fights for girls’ education and girls’ rights, will fully fund education for 300 girls in Peru, Nepal, India, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Ethiopia for one year, in addition to in-class activities focused on inspiring girls to dream big. Local organizations will be able to run at least three dedicated workshops on interesting career options, and access to curriculum that will help girls see themselves in new roles.
She Should Run, which provides guidance and support to women considering a run for office, will build and scale curriculum that helps girls imagine what is possible for their leadership in elected office through course offerings. This will influence at least 2,500 young girls to take action toward developing their political leadership.
Step Up, which inspires girls through after-school and weekend mentorship programs, will host four “I Dream To…” Mentorship Conferences around the country for 200 girls and take a multi-generational approach to role modeling and what it means to dream big and to confidently pursue those dreams.
“In the last year, we launched the Barbie Dream Gap Project to raise awareness around the Dream Gap by committing funds, research, products and dedicated resources to find ways to better help this next generation of girls reach their limitless potential,” said Lisa McKnight, SVP and GM, Barbie & Dolls, Mattel. “Closing the Dream Gap is a multi-year initiative that cannot be done alone. We are pleased to be taking the next step by partnering with GoFundMe.org and selected nonprofit organizations that have powerful vehicles in place to reach girls at a global scale.”
“Closing the Dream Gap for girls is imperative for the success of our future generations and we’re proud to partner with Mattel to work towards making this a reality,” said Yoshi Inoue, Executive Director GoFundMe.Org. “Every day on GoFundMe, young changemakers are making a difference in their community and across the world through social fundraising. Now, through GoFundMe.org, we’re empowering people to take action and support this important cause with the Barbie Dream Gap Project Fund.”
This effort is the next step in Barbie’s ongoing commitment to close the Dream Gap. The brand continues to offer empowering products, like the recently-released Barbie Judge, to highlight underrepresented careers for girls. In addition, UCLA Scholars and Storytellers has developed a curriculum that addresses issues perpetuating the Dream Gap in partnership with Barbie, which is currently being piloted in El Segundo Unified elementary schools.
For more information, visit www.Barbie.com/DreamGap and take action at the Barbie Dream Gap Project GoFundMe page.
About The Barbie Dream Gap Project
Research* has identified that starting at age five many girls are less likely than boys to view their own gender as smart and begin to lose confidence in their own competence. Cultural stereotypes, implicit biases and representation in media deepen this issue. This is the Dream Gap and, to help close it, Barbie launched the Barbie Dream Gap Project as a multiyear initiative in October 2018 to further the brand’s commitment to empowering girls around the world.
