Sheryl Sandberg, Beyonce, Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton and Malala Youafzai have all been on the cover of TIME Magazine. Barbie made her own breakthrough as a cover girl this week, looking more like women many of us know—or perhaps see in the mirror. At 57, Barbie is no longer just the thin “bad role model” type with her feet perpetually poised for high heels. She’s curvy, petite or tall and has a range of skin shades and hair types.
Read MoreAt least, that’s what Mattel wants you to think. And we have to admit: with marketing like this, we might be convinced, too.
The company just released a new ad that rebrands the iconic doll as a source of inspiration for young girls. If your daughter plays with a Barbie, Mattel seems to be saying, she’ll grow up believing she can be anything she wants to be, whether that’s a professor, a veterinarian, or a football coach.
Read MoreI talk a lot about the importance of closing the gender gap in STEM. The statistics clearly outline the problem: only 14% of engineers are women. Girls are losing confidence in math and science by age eight. Something needs to change.
Read MoreLast summer I sold my first book, an art guide on how to draw Japanese comics, also known as manga. This came after years of writing about manga, including their feminist aspects, and adapting manga into English. Afterwards, my publisher asked me if I had any ideas for Minecraft books, and I let my imagination loose.
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