Hijab-wearing Barbie debuts, but not pleasing all

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For the first time ever, Barbie wears a hijab. Mattel, the manufacturer of Barbie dolls, released its first hijab-wearing character on Monday, inspired by the US Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad.

The 31-year-old female athlete was the first US Olympian to compete wearing a hijab at the 2016 Rio Olympics. During the game, she won a bronze medal.

Courtesy of Mattel

Ibtihaj was invited to the ceremony at Glamour magazine’s Women of the Year Summit in New York City, revealing the doll made in her honor.

"Thank you @Mattel for announcing me as the newest member of the @Barbie #Shero family! I’m proud to know that little girls everywhere can now play with a Barbie who chooses to wear hijab! This is a childhood dream come true #shero", said Ibtihaj on her twitter.

Twitter of Ibtihaj Muhammad‍

The doll belongs to the series of “Shero”. The word is a portmanteau of she and hero, referring to positive female role models.

"Ibtihaj continues to inspire women and girls everywhere to break boundaries," Mattel said on Twitter. The company launched the first black Barbie named Christie in 1968 and created the first African American Barbie in the 1980s.

Consumers will have the opportunity to buy the latest Barbie in 2018. Mattel plans to release another doll inspired by the Nobel Peace Prize owner Malala Yousafzai, which also belongs to “Shero”.

Social media users are wowed by the new move as a significant step towards representation of religion.

“Barbie finally modeled a doll after a Hijabi Muslim woman -- and it's modeled after black Olympian Ibtihaj Muhammad. This is going to mean everything to young Muslim girls,” said Simran Jeet Singh, an activist and educator.

“LOVE this! @Barbie's first doll with a hijab is modeled after @IbtihajMuhammad. Representation matters. Black. Muslim. Magic,” said Britni Danielle, a writer.

“I can’t wait for my #shero to have a doll of her #shero,” said Jason E Griffin, a fan of Ibtihaj.

However, not everyone is happy about the idea of the latest religious figure.

“Teaching our girls oppression at a young age, so nice,” said twitter user Tony J.

“Religion should be kept away from toys,” said Susan Ewington, an atheist.

There are also some people who remain neutral.

“Wait what? How did a Barbie doll trigger you all the way to accusations of opposition?” said twitter user E37221.

“She is here in the USA. We have religious liberty guaranteed by our constitution,” said music-business-major student Alicia McKinney, when replying a twitter post which asked the Muslim athletes of USA national team to wear hijab in a country which allows it.

Ibtihaj is not inexperienced of the argument related to religion. Her attendance of the Olympic Games last year had also triggered accusations on whether Muslim females have the right to participate sports games.