Photo from Mattel’s website.
In a surprisingly progressive move, Mattel, the LA-based company that gave us Barbies, has just released a new line of dolls called Creatable World™. The six dolls come in a variety of skin tones and do not have gender markers like breasts, makeup, broad shoulders or facial hair. Each doll comes in a “deluxe character kit” with wigs and lots of gender-neutral clothing. There are skirts, but who says only women can wear skirts?
Instead of giving the dolls names, they are described by hair type (black braided hair, brunette wavy hair), which doesn’t make for catchy marketing, but maybe it’s time to stop marketing from having so much control over everything a company does. There is an emphasis on the dolls being “customizable” which gives them a broader appeal, but there is no denying the line’s slogan, that the dolls are “designed to keep labels out and invite everyone in.” The website also advertises Hot Wheels cars being played with by girls. Will this make up for Barbie giving us breast enlargements and eating disorders? We hope so.
Each kit retails for $29.99 and is available at Target, Walmart, Amazon and Mattel’s website.
