A matter of representation: Make us dolls of different races, shapes and sizes

Mattel has been selling Black dolls for decades, but there is a growing market for a more diverse range including racial minorities, larger bodies and disabilities. Photo: Erika Wittlieb/Pixabay

British entrepreneur Jodi Vernon never intended to become a toy maker. But after her daughter Clarke was born, she struggled to find Black dolls that represented her family in toy shops packed with white-skinned, blue-eyed figures.

The last straw came when she went into a second-hand shop in London and was offered a golliwog doll – a 19th century-era caricature inspired by Black-faced minstrels that has long been considered racist.