Civil rights activist Rosa Parks and astronaut Sally Ride get their own Barbies
Monday was Women's Equality Day. It was also the day that Mattel, the company behind Barbie, released two new dolls: One honoring the Civil rights activist Rosa Parks; the other paying homage to astronaut Sally Ride.
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"Both Sally Ride and Rosa Parks made the world better for future generations of girls. By celebrating their achievements with dolls made in their likeness, we hope girls will be inspired to pursue their dreams," a Mattel spokesperson told Mashable.
These two historic figures join other women, such as Frida Kahlo, as part of Mattel's Inspiring Women Series, which debuted on Women's Equality Day last year.
Avengers: Endgame actress Yvette Nicole Brown took to Twitter to express her excitement.
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But there were some less than positive reactions to the news, too.
Jeanne Theoharis, political science professor at Brooklyn College, relayed her dismay with Mattel's description of Rosa Parks' life before she refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus.
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Other people on Twitter criticized the skin tone and body proportions of the Rosa Parks doll.
Megha Mohan, BBC's gender and identity correspondent, tweeted:
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Despite the controversy, the Rosa Parks doll is already sold out. Mattel is working to restock it.
Topics Activism Social Good
Siobhan was the Social Good reporter at Mashable, writing about everything from mental health to race to the climate crisis. Before diving into the world of journalism, she worked in global health — most notably, as a Peace Corps volunteer in Mozambique. Find her at @siobhanneela.
