Rosa Parks solidified her place in American history through her tireless civil rights work and nonviolent resistance, and this week, toy company Mattel recognized her status as an icon with the launch of a doll in her likeness. The freedom fighter best known for her role in the Montgomery Bus Boycotts is the latest woman to be added to Barbie’s Inspiring Women series. The line, which launched in 2018, features former NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson ($20, walmart.com) and other exemplary women who have broken barriers, emboldened change and spurred greatness. The announcement for Parks fittingly came on Women’s Equality Day.
Sally Ride, the first American woman to fly in space, was announced alongside Parks.
“Both Sally Ride ($31, mattel.com) and Rosa Parks ($30, walmart.com) made the world better for future generations of girls,” a Mattel spokesperson told CNN. “By celebrating their achievements with dolls made in their likeness, we hope girls will be inspired to pursue their dreams.”
We’re adding two courageous women to the #Barbie Inspiring Women Series – Civil Rights activist, Rosa Parks, and the first American woman to fly in space, Sally Ride.
Barbie Sally Ride doll: @Target
Barbie Rosa Parks doll: @Walmart
Or pre-order now: https://t.co/mnRXP0Sro3 pic.twitter.com/hZIdchCV1p— Barbie (@Barbie) August 26, 2019
In a press release debuting the Inspiring Women series in 2018, Lisa McKnight, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Barbie said, “Girls have always been able to play out different roles and careers with Barbie and we are thrilled to shine a light on real-life role models to remind them that they can be anything.”
Earlier this year the toy company, that has in recent years pressed to be more inclusive, launched an African-American Barbie with natural hair, in a wheelchair. In 2017, they released their first hijab-wearing doll in the likeness of Muslim Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad ($20, amazon.com).
For those interested in getting a jump start on their holiday shopping, you can sign up to be notified when the Rosa Parks doll is back in stock.