There’s nothing quite like a gift from the heart to serve as a testament to true love. One generous husband went the extra mile for his wife to create a birthday present that she’ll cherish forever.
Toy manufacturing giant Mattel recently made headlines with the unveiling of its new “Game Developer Barbie” line, celebrating women in the tech industry at a time when the conversation surrounding representation of women across all career fields is a constant. However, when game developer Lisette Titre-Montgomery went to purchase one of the dolls for herself, she was disappointed to find it was only available in one skin tone. When her husband Marcus learned of his wife’s dilemma, he said he knew exactly what to to do for her upcoming birthday: purchase a different type of Barbie Doll in a darker skin tone and dress her up in the Game Developer Barbie attire.
Lisette says her husband’s consideration made the gift that much more special. “I love my husband because he’s thoughtful and generous,” she told ABC News in an e-mail. “The thought of him struggling to put those tiny clothes on that little Barbie with those big hands cracks me up. It makes me love the gift even more.”
While Marcus was grateful to be able to put a smile on his wife’s face for her big day, he says he only did what women of color have been doing for their daughters for decades. “Let’s be real, mothers across America have been doing this for years,” he said. “My ultimate goal was to make my wife smile. It was her birthday. She works hard and, like all of us, she feels unrecognized at times. A developer Barbie acknowledged her career of choice. It’s exciting. It’s cool, but both my wife and I realize the importance of representation and it’s something we experience every day.”
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