Barbie creates Rosa Parks doll as part of their new Inspiring Women collection

Honouring some of our most inspiring women.

Barbie is probably one of the most iconic and popular dolls to have ever existed. When you think doll, you think Barbie. It only makes sense then that Barbie should create a series celebrating iconic women from different parts of history. One of the dolls to be unveiled in the new collection is none other than human rights activist Rosa Parks, who in 1955 refused to give up her seat on the bus sparking a nationwide civil rights movement for African Americans in the United States. As the Inspiring Women series pays tribute to incredible heroines of their time it only seems fitting that Rosa Louise Parks should be included. When speaking of her actions that faithful day in 1955 and her subsequence role in the civil rights movement Parks said;

People always say that I didn't give up my seat because I was tired, but that isn't true. I was not tired physically, or no more tired than I usually was at the end of a working day. I was not old, although some people have an image of me as being old then. I was forty-two. No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in.

[caption id="attachment_372115" align="aligncenter" width="1365"] rosa parks[/caption] The series includes many other inspiring women including Frida Kahlo, Amelia Earhart and Katherine Johnson, transforming Barbie from a fashion doll into something much more aspirational. I think it's a great idea for little girls (and boys) to have toys that teach them about the women that change the course of history. Even if they don't know about Rosa's legacy, it's a great way to educate them. The Inspiring Women dolls are available to buy through the Barbie website for €28 (not including postage) and all dolls include a doll stand, Certificate of Authenticity and accessories.