Why is Latina Representation in Toys So Important?

Thoughtful Latina girl observing a blonde, light-skinned doll

In the world where a child grows and learns, the toys they play with and the media they consume significantly influence their understanding of themselves and their surroundings. As they immerse themselves in these playful realities, they instinctively draw parallels between their personal experiences and those of the characters they encounter.


This goes to show how much responsibility the media and toy industries have in showing the actual diversity of our world. One part of this is making sure young Latina girls are represented properly, something they often miss out on in mainstream stories.

Imagine a young Latina girl seeing a character or doll that looks and talks like her and reflects her culture. It might seem small, but this representation can have a huge impact on her self-image. It shows her that she matters, that she's valued, and that she truly belongs in this world.

A historical reference underlining this concept comes from the 1940s. Psychologists Kenneth and Mamie Clark devised a series of experiments known as "the doll tests" to investigate the psychological impacts of segregation on African-American children. The Clarks' experimental design, using dolls identical but for color, highlighted how children's racial perceptions are shaped.

Their conclusions, drawn from children preferring the white doll and assigning positive attributes to it, are stark – prejudice, discrimination, and segregation led to feelings of inferiority and damaged self-esteem amongst African-American children.

Clark Doll experimentswww.youtube.com

The narratives children encounter matter. Seeing characters that resemble them overcome adversities, achieve great things, and be celebrated gives them tangible role models. A young Latina girl can dream bigger and aim higher when she sees a Latina scientist, artist, astronaut, or entrepreneur in a book, on a television screen, or in a movie.

Needless to say, diverse representation should not be a sporadic token. It needs to be genuine and thorough. Latina characters should not be relegated to the margins but should take center stage across various genres – fantasy to science fiction, romance to adventure. These characters should be layered and complex, with stories that transcend their cultural identities.

If we take a closer look at industry giants like Mattel's Barbie and American Girl, they talk a big game about being committed to diversity and inclusion. But the real question is, how far does that commitment really go?

In 1980, Mattel introduced three versions of Barbie—white, Black, and Hispanic—but the differences were only skin deep, as they all bore mostly the same face mold and body shape.

1980s hispanic barbieartsandculture.google.com

According to El País, the first Latina Barbie doll, Barbie's "best friend" Teresa, was launched in 1988. But her Latina identity was never explicitly confirmed, her features designed to be ambiguous. Only in 1999 was it established that her last name was Rivera, lending some credence to her still-very-ambiguous Latina identity.

And oddly enough, consistency hasn't been a strong point for the character, as Teresa's eye color, skin color, and even cultural background have constantly fluctuated, making her more of a wildcard than a genuine representation of a Latina.

And while today's "Barbies of the World" line celebrates various Latine cultures, they are often limited and overpriced, meant for collectors rather than children.

A similar pattern is visible in the American Girl doll line. Though it boasts a range of cultures today, one major criticism of the doll line, particularly concerning their representation of historically marginalized cultures, is that these dolls are not easily accessible to the communities they are meant to depict. In fact, American Girl dolls are notoriously priced well beyond the reach of what most American families would intend to spend on a children's toy, if they can even be called that.

a screenshot of the $115 USD josefina doll by american girl

As seen with Barbie's bestie Teresa, Latina dolls are often given secondary roles, usually introduced as just friends or companions to the main white dolls. Even today, despite having their own unique names, Latina dolls still often get stuck being the "other" dolls, rarely taking on the role of the main character.

The importance of diverse representation extends beyond skin color. It's about the narratives constructed around these dolls and their unique worlds.

Authentic representation of diverse cultures in media and toys plays a crucial role in shaping children's understanding of our world's cultural differences. This inclusivity empowers young girls, giving them a sense of visibility and acceptance while fostering empathy and understanding in others.

Accurate representation becomes a means of transmitting cultural values, history, and traditions. When girls see their heritage portrayed authentically, it instills pride in their identity and offers an opportunity for others to learn and appreciate different cultures.

Yet, the journey to genuine representation is far from over, despite increasing awareness of its importance. Purpose Toys' Latinistas doll line is a step in the right direction as it seeks to pay homage to Latine culture by showcasing a range of diverse characteristics such as hair textures, skin tones, makeup styles, and fashion choices (those iconic hoops included!)

However, there's still much ground to cover, especially when portraying a wider variety of body shapes, fashion use, and facial features, which the Latinista dolls fall short on.

latinista dolls by purpose toysCourtesy of Purpose Toys

Ensuring that dolls reflect the diversity of real individuals from different backgrounds will be crucial in fostering a sense of belonging and validation among children who play with them. While progress has been made, toy manufacturers need to continue pushing boundaries and exploring ways to be more inclusive.

Representation of young Latina girls in media and toys goes beyond mere fairness; it’s a powerful tool to nurture self-esteem, inspire ambition, promote inclusivity, and foster cultural understanding.

This Viral Video Game Is Changing the Face of Voter Outreach

In 2024, voting campaigns have evolved greatly, to say the least. Creativity is now the name of the game and tongue-in-cheek humor is expertly leveraged to drive action. One example of that is Bop the Bigot, a revival of a viral game created in 2016 by Bazta Arpaio, an Arizona activist group, as part of a campaign to unseat Maricopa County’s Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Arpaio lost his re-election to Paul Penzone that year.

The game has now been updated for the current election cycle and relaunched by On Point Studios, with new features added to enable players to find out what’s on their ballot, confirm voter status, and register to vote.

Much like its former 2016 version, the game allows users to take out their political frustrations by virtually “bopping” GOP candidates in the head. It’s very similar to whack-a-mole, except the mole is replaced by former President Donald Trump, Ohio’s Senator J. D. Vance, and Kevin Roberts, President of the Heritage Foundation, which is spearheading Project 2025.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

B. Loewe, Director of On Point Studios, came up with the concept for this game when working as the Communications Director at Bazta Arpaio in 2016, and is the executive producer of this revamped version. In the first version of the game, Bop the Bigot players used a chancla (flip flop) to “bop” the characters, tapping into Latino culture by leaning on the childhood experience of being set right by a flying chancla from a fed-up mother or grandmother.

This year, the chancla is replaced by a more current element, a green coconut, referencing Kamala Harris’ coconut tree meme. There are also side characters like “the couch,” cat ladies, and more coconuts. All references to jokes about Vice-Presidential candidate Vance, or insults Vance has made about women on the campaign trail.

Another new addition is that Harris’ laugh is immortalized as the game-over sound effect, an unexpected detail that adds even more humor and levity to the game.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump, Kevin Roberts, and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

Bop the Bigot, which is playable on desktop and mobile, is intended not just as a way to vent political frustrations, but also as a tool for activism and securing voter engagement.

For example, the game supports the work of Mexican Neidi Dominguez Zamorano, Founding Executive Director of the non-profit organization Organized Power in Numbers by using the “game over” screen to prompt players to donate to it and support their efforts.

Organized Power in Numbers is focused on empowering workers in the South and Southwest of the U.S. through collective action and comprehensive campaigns. Their mission is to create a large-scale movement that challenges the status quo and advocates for workers' rights, and racial and economic justice.

Currently, Dominguez Zamorano is leading worker outreach to 2 million working-class voters in the South and Southwest through doorknocking, texting, and calls with the help of local groups in North Carolina, Arizona, New Mexico, and more.

“We have been blown away by the enthusiastic reception for the video game. We knew we wanted to be part of its creative approach because our movement needs more fun and laughter. We need more ways to connect with nuestra gente so we can feel joy among all the absurdity we witness every day,” Dominguez Zamorano shared with Luz Media via email.

“Our people are gente trabajadora and we deserve to feel uplifted even in our toughest moments. We are deeply involved in the South and Southwest so we know what’s at stake in this election and we’re happy this can be a resource to mobilize, raise spirits, and get out the vote," she concluded.

Dominguez Zamorano is a committed activist for immigrants and workers' rights, known for her strategist skills and expertise. She played a key role in the campaign to win DACA and has also held roles in major campaigns, including as Deputy National States Director for Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign. In addition to her work with Organized Power in Numbers, Dominguez Zamorano is serving as a Senior Advisor to Mijente’s Fuera Trump Initiative.

Grassroots efforts like these have taken on new life in 2024, with Bop the Bigot adding to the larger, ongoing fight against political apathy and disinformation. Just as it did during the 2016 race, the video game uses humor to soften the serious task at hand—getting people to the polls.

"We want the game to be a fun and comical outlet for anyone who’s been insulted, frustrated, or harmed by Trump in the past and everyone who is ready to move forward as a country after election day," explained Loewe in a press release. "The proposals in Project 2025 and the beliefs of Trump and Vance aren’t just weird, they’re truly harmful. We wanted to give people a humorous and peaceful way to smack down their racism and sexism. We hope it makes people laugh and also feel empowered and motivated to get to the polls on or before election day."

With a mix of satire, sharp political critique, and nostalgia, the game is a call to action. The upcoming election, which is getting closer by the minute, has sparked fierce activism and creative yet grounded initiatives like these aim to ensure voters are engaged, especially young Latinos and disenfranchised groups.

hands holding up yellow protest signs that say Hands Off Our Bodies
Photo Credit: Gayatri Malhotra via Unsplash

Originally published in Common Dreams. Reprinted with permission.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

In November, abortion rights measures will appear on ballots across ten states, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, and New York, where Latinos make up a significant portion of the electorate. For decades, pundits and politicians have recycled long-held misconceptions about Latino voters and abortion access, citing our conservative and religious beliefs.

Anti-abortion extremists have long fueled these misconceptions through misinformation and disinformation campaigns targeting Latino communities with egregious lies and inflammatory rhetoric about abortion. Yet, polling, focus groups, and direct interactions with Latino communities have debunked these outdated tropes.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

For Latinos, the freedom to decide, a pillar of our American democracy, is critical. Meanwhile, Latinos are being hit directly with anti-abortion efforts that take away that freedom such as the six-week abortion ban put into effect by the Florida Supreme Court and the 1864 abortion ban upheld by the Arizona Supreme Court. In the wake of the Dobbs decision, people of color and Latinas have felt the impact of a lack of abortion access, an element of basic healthcare.

A 2023 report by the National Partnership for Women and Families estimated that nearly 6.5 million Latinas, or 42% of all Latinas of reproductive age in the country, live in a state that either had or was likely to ban abortion. Ironically, it will be abortion access and anti-choice efforts to restrict freedom of choice that will mobilize Latino voters this election.

In a poll conducted by three national reproductive justice organizations, 87% of Latinas named abortion and women’s rights as one of their top priorities as they head to the polls. Another battleground poll conducted by Somos PAC and BSP Research found that 61% of Latino registered voters expressed a more positive/favorable view of Kamala Harris after hearing that she will protect abortion rights, versus only 19% of Latinos who said they had a more negative view of Harris after hearing that.

In key states to secure the White House and both chambers, Latinos make up large chunks of the electorate: Arizona (25%), Colorado (15%), Florida (20%), Nevada (20%), and New York (12%). In the face of unprecedented attacks on basic healthcare access and targeted attempts by extremists to mislead and divide our community on this issue, this November Latinos will be key deciders on abortion access across the country.

Mari Urbina, Managing Director of Indivisible, Battleground Arizona Lead and former Harry Reid advisor.

Héctor Sánchez Barba is president and CEO of Mi Familia Vota (MFV).