2019 is the 60th birthday of Barbie. The youthful icon will be making socially relevant points via social media throughout the year.

Mattel is commemorating the 60^th anniversary of Barbie’s ascension in the toy-box world with an enormous amount of fanfare and philanthropy. Mattel, the playtime powerhouse, is aware that their doll is a symbol of young girlhood and the many hours spent playing. Mattel has always believed that “dreaming” goes hand-in-hand with pretending. After all, little girls use their dolls to act out the futures that they often wish for themselves. However, like Langston Hughes poetically warned, dreams sometimes do get deferred. Sadly, little girls often have to navigate a Dream Gap.

For 2019, to help discourage the Dream Gap, Barbie and National Geographic have joined forces to promote STEM jobs and science-based interests.

According to social researchers, many girls begin to doubt their potential as early as age 5. That is a horrifying thought, if the Princeton, New York University, and University of Illinois combined data is completely true. My only notion is that at age 5, many girls are just beginning to attend school. Newly enrolled in kindergarten, they suddenly have to compete with other students for a grown-up’s attention. Perhaps going from being a single child, or a child comfortable with siblings, into a classroom environment can be daunting and challenging. It’s bad when anyone’s self-esteem is eroded. It’s truly heartbreaking if girls begin this self-doubt at such a tender age.

Girls fall victim to the Dream Gap at about age 5. They begin to exhibit self-doubt and worries about their potential. National Geographic and Mattel want to battle this.

Pundits have labeled this squashing of self-direction as the Dream Gap, and Mattel is pledging to donate funds to fight this confidence crisis. “The Barbie brand believes girls should never know a world, job, or dream women haven’t conquered. Through our global platform, we are igniting a movement to help close the Dream Gap and further establish Barbie as the ultimate girl empowerment brand,” Lisa McKnight, general manager and senior vice president, Barbie, Mattel, told the Doll Chronicles.

Armed with her telescope, Barbie proves that the heavens are her rightful career path. More science and math-based dolls are part of Mattel’s Dream Gap initiative.

Looking at Barbie’s 60^th anniversary, McKnight clearly points to the many careers that the versatile vinyl go-getter has pursued and conquered: “For 60 years, Barbie has championed girls, inspired generations to believe through make-believe and showed them that they have choices. With more than 200 careers, six runs for president and a trip to the moon before Neil Armstrong, Barbie continues to evolve to be a modern, relevant role model for all ages.” True to form, Barbie is now a rock climber, of sorts, lifting herself and other girls across this Dream Gap that threatens to paralyze people with shyness and timidity.

For 2019, National Geographic and Barbie prove that a woman’s place is where adventure, action, and arithmetic lead her.

To help eliminate this distressing loss of self-belief, Mattel is kicking off the Barbie Dream Gap Project Fund. Barbie will donate $1 from every doll sold in the United States, up to $250,000, to help level the playing field for girls. Mattel’s Children’s Foundation will manage the resources. They will dedicate the funds to similarly drive organizations that are equally committed to erasing the Dream Gap. Additionally, the Mattel partnership with National Geographic spells out a bold new world of playtime make-believe. The 2019 offerings go beyond the confines of a more “traditional” female career. Barbie is showing that she’s not just a heavenly body herself. Instead, she has the smarts to study and to map the celestial heavens above.

Mattel has embraced social media as a way to raise their consumer profile and also their philanthropy. Vlogger Barbie is a huge presence on YouTube. She will be speaking about the Dream Gap in 2019.

Last year, when Barbie was a spry 59 years old, Mattel announced their intention to work toward eradicating the pitfalls that often entrap young girls. Collectors can track Mattel’s success and continuing global initiative by following @barbie during this 60^th anniversary celebration. Mattel and Barbie want collectors to become actively engaged in the conversation. They urge people to join in on the topic by using hashtags #Barbie60 and #YouCanBeAnything.

You can be anything! That is the heartfelt lesson from Mattel for 2019. The Barbie National Geo line wants to conquer the Dream Gap.

In fact, the “Be Anything” mantra, which is a vocal way to silence the Dream Gap doubts, is coming to a town near you. The “Be Anything” Tour will run from March 9 through October 2019. It will stop at 36 Walmarts across the nation. At the “Be Anything” events, the Dream Gap will be discussed. Attendees will hear the personal stories and journeys of role models. While there, they can register for the chance to win up to $20,000. Potentially receiving that cash prize will make many girls’ dreams come true.

There are more than 60 reasons to cheer on Barbie during this milestone year! The Dream Gap global initiative is just one of them.

Amazon, one of the world’s largest cyber businesses, will be honoring Barbie as well. Through April 2, pop-up stores will feature an immersive Barbie experience. The “Barbie Presented by Amazon” event, in conjunction with Mattel, will occur in five major U.S. markets.