Toymaker Mattel has just launched a gender-inclusive Barbie doll

Barbie dolls have been around since 1959 – and the popular dolls have sold by the million in the years since.

However, much has been said about the very stereotypical design of the original Barbie, and the rather unrealistic body image the plastic dolls portrays. However, this is all about to change as Mattel (the makers of Barbie) has just launched what the company is calling it the world’s first gender-neutral doll. Say hello to the Creatable World doll – the toy that might just put an end to gendered toys.   According to Time, the Creatable World doll will make you reconsider what you think of as “boy toys” and "girl toys," and is a welcome answer to parents who for years have been pushing for less division when it comes to their childrens’ toys. There are no Barbie-like breasts or broad, Ken-like shoulders. In fact, each doll in the Creatable World series looks like a slender 7-year-old with short hair, but each comes with a wig of long, lustrous locks and a wardrobe befitting any fashion-conscious kid: hoodies, sneakers, graphic T-shirts in soothing greens and yellows, along with tutus and camo pants. To create the dolls, Mattel worked alongside a dedicated team of experts, parents, physicians and most importantly, kids. The six dolls in the line are carefully designed so that features don’t represent either gender-normative attributes: eyelashes are not long, lips are full, and the jaw is not too wide. And the best bit? All the Creatable World doll comes comes complete with a rather extensive wardrobe – which enables you to quickly change their hair and clothing, so that the doll can be made to look more like a girl, or boy – or neither or both. Here is what Mattel had to say about the new dolls in a company press release:  

“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,” said Kim Culmone, Senior Vice President of Mattel Fashion Doll Design. “Through research, we heard that kids don’t want their toys dictated by gender norms. This line allows all kids to express themselves freely which is why it resonates so strongly with them. We’re hopeful Creatable World will encourage people to think more broadly about how all kids can benefit from doll play.”