Mattel Unveils Gender-Neutral Doll

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Published September 25, 2019 at 3:52 pm

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Mattel has announced they are launching a line of fully customizable, gender-inclusive toys that will be marketed towards both boys and girls.

According to their press release, the line of dolls is intended to “let toys be toys, so kids can just be kids.”

Called “Creatable World” the doll can be customized in both attire and appearance to look pretty much anyway its owner desires—and all the customizable options come in the same box (so no need to purchase additional features).

Mattel worked closely with experts, parents, physicians, and kids to bring this idea to fruition—particularly kids who identify as non-binary, genderqueer and/or trans, and rarely feel represented by the toys they play with or the media they consume.

“Toys are a reflection of culture and as the world continues to celebrate the positive impact of inclusivity, we felt it was time to create a doll line free of labels,” Kim Culmone, senior vice president of Mattel Fashion Doll Design, said in the release.

According to an article from Time, some parents feel the company is using the doll to make a political statement and enter into the gender-identity debate.

However, President Richard Dickson refutes this, saying in the article: “We’re not in the business of politics, and we respect the decision any parent makes around how they raise their kids. Our job is to stimulate imaginations. Our toys are ultimately canvases for cultural conversation, but it’s your conversation, not ours; your opinion, not ours.”

Currently, the toys are selling for $39.99, and can be purchased at most major retailers.

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