Virgin’s Barbie dolls on Israel flight inspires young girls to reach for the sky
Airline marked voyage to Tel Aviv by with one-of-a-kind dolls clutched by cabin crew, to highlight underrepresentation of women within aviation
If it was a surprise to see a woman pilot on Virgin Atlantic’s outward flight from London to Tel Aviv last week, it was even more of a surprise to see the officer clutching a Barbie doll — dressed from head to foot in a copy of the Virgin Atlantic pilot’s uniform.
All became clear when it was announced that Virgin had teamed up with Mattell, the makers of the Barbie doll, in order to encourage young girls to take literally the mantra that “the sky’s the limit” for careers.
Research indicates that less than five per cent of UK pilots are women, and that only 12 per cent of the UK engineering workforce is female.
Working together, Virgin and Mattell have created three one-of-a-kind Barbie dolls — a Barbie pilot, a Barbie engineer, and a Barbie cabin crew member, each one of whom is decked out in VA uniforms. From November the partnership will see visits to primary schools from real-life women pilots and engineers.
Read more:
- WATCH: Sir Richard Branson puts bartering skills to the test in Jaffa market!
- Richard Branson hails Israeli entrepreneurs as he arrives on new Virgin flight
Nikki Humphrey, a senior vice-president at Virgin Atlantic, said: “We know that women are currently underrepresented across a number of careers within aviation. We also know we can’t change this position overnight. Therefore, it’s imperative we play the long-game, highlighting to primary aged children that any job role is open and our partnership with Barbie marks another milestone in our commitment to this”.
Limited edition versions of the dolls will be available to buy on all Virgin Atlantic flights.
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
