PARENTING: Black baby doll options for girls criticised online
Buying a doll is no simple task, it takes a lot of time to think about what the doll will represent in your child's life...
Traditionally, buying a toy for your kid wasn't something that led to issues with self image. However, as time has passed, it has become no ordinary task. It is something that many parents have had to really think about before just grabbing something off the shelf.
It is about being inclusive in all ways, and making sure that we add a holistic and varied way of looking at everything in the world. So, for instance, buying a toy gun doesn't hold any value and isn't something that we are comfortable with.
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For obvious reasons, playing with a gun could lead to a state of mind that accepts using a gun (even for play) as normal or okay. But with the numerous real-life stories that we hear about on a daily basis, it is not okay.
In this case, it was about not having a broad range of options available to this mother, when it came to representing the varied and bountifulness of black babies. She found that the features of the black baby were very adult-like and didn't fully represent a black baby.
WATCH the video below, courtesy of TikTok:
@jeanchronicles It’s the exaggerated nose,forehead and mouth for me😭🥺 #minilanddolls #fyp #diverse ♬ Spongebob Tomfoolery - Dante9k Remix - David Snell
In the world we live in, we should be able to express diversity without being limited.
Many people came to the post to share their true feelings. Some said they felt it was an accurate representation of the Australian Aborigines, whilst others insinuated that parents will never be happy with the representations. And that no company can be totally inclusive as ultimately no one looked the same, regardless of their race or ethnicity.
Whichever way we look at it, everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and, of course, parenting style.
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This is why mothers such as Mmule Ramothibe (the creator of Nandikwa Dolls), Serena Williams, who was inspired by her daughter's doll Qai Qai, and our very own Carol Ofori and her son's adventures with Katlego (coming soon), were motivated to create a broader spectrum of inclusivity when it comes to the toys and the stories we share with our children.
Because they saw a gap in the market when it came to their children. So, all in all, it was a learning experience. As much as interacting with toys is very much a subjective experience, it does impact the way we see ourselves in the future.
Check out the short preview of what you can expect when it comes to Carol Ofori's new book series, 'The African Adventures of Sena and Katlego'.
Image Courtesy of TikTok