Barbie dolls have been around for 60 years and have mirrored many of the changes in culture and society. Barbie has been a politician, actress, musician, doctor, nurse, astronaut, and more. But there is a point where no matter how many changes Barbie goes through, she will always be seen as the iconic Barbie doll, and that doll does not reflect how many children view themselves and their world.
Today’s society increasingly is rejecting labels and embracing diversity. Mattel’s new line of dolls – the Creatable World doll – is still high-fashion, but the dolls reject labels and invite everyone to play. The dolls are designed as gender-neutral and can therefore be dressed and accessorized to adopt to many types of children – male, female, transgender, gender-fluid, and non-binary. In other words, the Creatable World dolls can be turned into virtually every different child’s gender and appearance.
The dolls look like a 7-year old child and have makeup-free, polished faces. There are various wigs, accessories, and clothing wardrobes. Dolls come with versatile pieces of clothing that give kids the freedom to make the characters whoever they want them to be. The dolls give kids a blank canvas with which they can create their own characters. Mattel uses the hashtag #AllWelcome to encourage a world where everyone is invited to play.
What are you waiting for? Let’s play!
Group Activities and Discussion Questions:
- Divide students into groups. Have each group 10 of their all-time favorite toys.
- Build the list of toys on the board and challenge students to examine the list.
- Are these toys gender-neutral, or are they directed at boys or girls only?
- Discuss with students how toys can reflect society and cultures.
- Show the video: https://youtu.be/-hGu4hPSNXI
- View the dolls at Mattel: https://www.mattel.com/en-us/creatable-world
- What other toys could use this approach?
- How should Mattel market the new dolls?
Sources: Lee, C. S. (26 September 2019). Mattel releases line of gender-neutral Creatable World Dolls. Advertising Age.
