Inspired by Sonia Singh’s Tree Change Dolls, Wendy Tsao, artist and founder of Child’s Own Studio, created a series of made under and restyled Mighty Dolls. Tsao took dolls fashioned after glamorous fictional characters (such as Disney princesses and Bratz dolls) and transformed them into young versions of real people that girls and young women can look up to. Tsao wanted a way for children to see and learn stories about courageous, smart, strong real women. For example, she has a young Frida Kahlo (Mexican painter), Jane Goodall (British primatologist), Waris Dirie (Somali model, author, activist), Roberta Bondar (first Canadian female astronaut), JK Rowling (British author of Harry Potter series), and Malala Yousafzai (Pakistani activist and Nobel laureate).

discussion

Why is it important for children to see and learn stories about real women?

Why does it matter what dolls look like, including whether their faces are painted with makeup and what kinds of clothes they wear?

Take a look at some of the before and after images of the dolls. What is most striking to you about the changes?

Who plays with dolls? Does this answer differ depending on your gender? If yes, how do you know this? What messages are sent in toy stores, advertisements, and interactions with your family and friends about who does and does not play with dolls?