Mattel Unveils New Rosa Parks Doll In Honor Of Women’s Equality Day

Mattel toy brand is honoring civil rights activist Rosa Parks with her own Barbie doll for Women’s Equality Day, which is celebrated on August 26. The Rosa Parks doll is one of a collection of new dolls unveiled in dedication to inspiring women in America.

The ‘Inspiring Women Series’ dolls are based on historical figures and come with educational information about the contributions each woman made to society, according to CNN. Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, is also included in the honorary series.

Mattel unveiled the ‘Inspiring Women Series’ to mark International Women’s Day last year, with 17 new dolls representing real women serving as role models that include Olympic snowboarding champion Chloe Kim, artist, and activist Frida Kahlo and Wonder Woman filmmaker Patty Jenkins.

Time magazine reports the company’s decision for the series was based on a global survey of mothers, in which 86% said they were worried about the kind of role models their daughters were exposed to.

Over the last three years, the toy company has taken many strides to increase inclusion amongst its dolls. In 2016, Mattel released three new body types for Barbie: curvy, petite and tall. 

They followed up with the introduction of new skin tones and hair textures in 2017. The first Barbie to wear a hijab was also introduced in 2017, and earlier this year, Mattel introduced a wheelchair Barbie and one with a prosthetic leg.