I’ve struggled to find out whether it’s a joke, but it appears to be genuine. Barbie is getting a burqa. Wearing the “traditional Islamic dress” [which it isn't] writes the Daily Mail, the blonde doll is going undercover for a charity auction for “Save The Children”.

The exhibition is being backed by the makers of Barbie, Mattel, and the work has been done by Italian designer Eliana Lorena.

The company director of Laird Assessors from The Wirral, Cheshire, said: ‘Bring it on Burkha Barbie, I think this is a great idea.

‘I think this is really important for girls, wherever they are from they should have the opportunity to play with a Barbie that they feel represents them.

Yes indeed. Burqa Barbie can now share in mutual repression and misogyny with their owners. Clearly absent from the collection is Burqa Barbie’s boyfriend, Ken, who was stoned to death for adultery. But Barbie’s husband, Abdullah, has forbidden her from leaving the house without being accompanied by at least two male relatives.

h/t SDA