Yahoo News Mattel's new Ken dolls get diversity right
In the immortal words of Michael Bublé: It's a new dawn. It's a new day. It's a new life... for Ken dolls – and they're looking good...
Yep, in case you didn't know, Barbie's blue-eyed boyfriend Ken has finally had a makeover – with toymaker Mattel launching 15 new and diverse Ken dolls in the hope that the toys will fit right into the modern era.
As everyone knows, where Barbie leads, Ken follows. So, with a range of more diverse body shapes and skin colours released in 2016 as part of the Fashionista range, comes the corresponding range of Ken dolls.
The new Ken dolls feature three body types – slim, broad and original – seven different skin tones, various eye colours, and hairstyles with modern fashion looks, including cornrows and man buns.
Related: Barbie is now a game developer - and she can actually code
But while this is all progressive in terms of diversity, with the toy company even describing the new range as the "most diverse fashion doll line in the marketplace", Mattel have seemingly directed their new range at girls...
In the most uninclusive statement, Barbie senior vice president and general manager Lisa McKnight said: "By continuing to expand our product line, we are redefining what a Barbie or Ken doll looks like to this generation.
"Evolving Ken was a natural evolution for the brand and allows girls to further personalise the role they want him to play in Barbie's world."
Not exactly an advocate for gender equality and genderless toy progression, is it?
Granted, the Barbie Fashionistas segment shows that Mattel have made big strides forward in terms of creating more realistic and racially inclusive dolls with their revised collection, and we welcome this – BUT since the promotional statement is primarily targeting "girls", it shows that the company itself still sadly relies on archaic gender stereotypes.
Not all girls want to play with dolls and tea sets, OK?!
To conclude: Can someone get me a pretty-in-pink keyboard for women, please? This dull unisex one that I'm using is too big (and boyish-looking) for my feminine hands.
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