Mattel
Mattel has released a new line of Barbie dolls that are apparently made to answer a “demand from children”.
The line? A gender-neutral Barbie, who can be masculine-presenting, feminine-presenting, or neither, depending on your choices today.
This is another big social step for Mattel, who is desperately trying to separate themselves from the accusations that Barbie sets unrealistic expectations for young girls everywhere.
So, what does this line include?
In a statement released by the mega toy company, which has been around since 1945 and produces a staggering number of toys, the company said that “Kids don’t want their toys dictated by gender norms.”
Apparently, Mattel worked with child psychologists and physicians to ensure that their dolls were appropriate and sent the message that they wanted to be shared. They also spoke to over 250 families with children that identified all across the gender spectrum to come up with a plan as to what would work best for this line.
Earlier this year Mattel also released a line of Barbie dolls that included prosthetic limbs, wheelchairs, and other physical disabilities. In 2017, they released a barbie that wore a hijab, working on more inclusion for their dolls.
No longer is Barbie just a tiny pink princess whose knees don’t bend.
These gender-neutral Barbie dolls are part of the Creatable World line from Mattel, and they will retail for about $30. This is on-par with the current prices of Barbies.
The line includes six different dolls with various skin colors and hairstyles. Each of the six dolls come with a long hairstyle, a short hairstyle, skirts, pants, and even jackets. Children are encouraged to mix and match the style of their dolls to match what they want to see in themselves, or in their world.
These dolls also go by a variety of pronouns, including gender-neutral alternatives like they and xem. Think this isn’t common? A poll done by the Pew Research Center found that a third of people born between 1995 and 2015 know at least one person who chooses to go by a gender-neutral pronoun.
In their twitter announcement, Mattel shared that “A world without labels means everyone is invited to play.”
The company also admits that they may alienate some people with these dolls, but they are taking bets on where the country is heading – and this is it.
