Should Barbie Be A Girl Scout?

This week, Barbie will officially become a Girl Scout.

Stores will begin selling Mattel's new Barbie, dressed as a Junior Girl Scout, complete with sash and a badge.​

It is part of a 3-year, $2 million deal Girl Scouts made nationally. The decision was made by those at the national level of Girl Scouts.

"Together with Girl Scouts, we hope to inspire young leaders and help girls explore all their career possibilities," said Cathy Cline, vice president of U.S. marketing, Mattel Girls Brands in a press release. "For over 50 years, Barbie has encouraged girls to dream and explore a world without limits. This partnership allows us to reach girls with an empowering message and provide them with a new platform from which to discover and dream."

"This partnership will allow Girl Scouts to offer an engaging and interactive new leadership experience, one that leverages the appeal of Barbie in order to encourage girls to explore exciting new career possibilities. We are tying the fun girls have playing with Barbie to an opportunity to gain insight into the careers of today and tomorrow, with patches and discovery along the way," said Girl Scouts CEO Anna Marie Chavez. "Like Girl Scouts, Barbie is an American icon; together, we are teaching girls that their futures are wide open with possibilities, and that they can accomplish anything they set their sights on in their careers.

"Barbie is basically a terrible role model for girls, and she's not about what the Girl Scouts' principles are, which have to do with leadership and courage," said Susan Linn, a psychologist and director of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood. Linn told TODAY that Barbie in a Girl Scout uniform sends the wrong message.

Do you think National Girl Scouts should have partner with Mattel? Should Barbie be a Girl Scout?  Post a comment below.

Editor's Note: I was a Brownie and a Girl Scout as a child. I am still a registered Girl Scout, now as a leader. I have been co-leading a Troop of girls since Kindergarten, who will be entering grade 8 next month. I am also the volunteer coordinator of the Framingham Girl Scouts.