Post by account_disabled on Mar 4, 2024 2:19:23 GMT -7
Mattel, the American company, is making dolls to honor real-life frontline personnel. Among them is a doll version of Amy O'Sullivan, a nurse at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn, who appeared on the cover of TIME for the magazine's 100 most influential people list last year.
The doll has hand-painted tattoos, silver hair and the colorful socks O'Sullivan wears to work every day, the nurse was particularly moved by the details of her doppelgänger.
Administrators used to have problems with my tattoos, hair, and rolled up pants. But I didn't want to be like anyone else...
I'm 58 years old, so I didn't have role models Chile Mobile Number List growing up. This, I think, shows boys and girls that it's okay to be different. It encourages them to be themselves.
Amy O'Sullivan, a nurse at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn.
Dolls to honor frontline personnel
The other five dolls are inspired by:
Dr. Audrey Sue Cruz, a Las Vegas doctor who campaigns against racial bias against Asian American doctors.
Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa, a Canada-based psychiatrist fighting racism in the healthcare system.
Sarah Gilbert, a professor in the United Kingdom who helped develop a COVID-19 vaccine.
Dr. Jaqueline Goes de Jesus, biomedical researcher who led the genome sequencing of the COVID-19 variant in Brazil.
Dr. Kirby White from Australia who developed reusable PPE for doctors.
The women each received their own one-of-a-kind doll, and the toy company announced it will donate $5 for every medical, nurse or paramedic Barbie sold at Target to the First Responders' Children's Program as part of its ThankYouHeroes Campaign, however, the tribute dolls are not for sale.
Mattel launched the campaign last year to give back to communities in need.
This fall, we certainly thought we would be further along in the pandemic… But it was important to honor these incredible medical workers around the world as we continue to face a difficult time.
Lisa McKnight, senior vice president of Mattel and global brand manager of the Barbie brand.
In its 62-year history, Barbie has had jobs as many different types of health care workers, in part, McKnight says, because children develop relationships with their pediatricians early on.
We hope these dolls can spark important conversations about the pandemic… While it's a somewhat scary topic, we think it opens the door to discussion of these frontline workers who are incredible role models.
Lisa McKnight, senior vice president of Mattel and global brand manager of the Barbie brand.
Mattel creates dolls to honor frontline workers
O'Sullivan says she never played with Barbies as a child, although she did play with Ken dolls. Her partner, who is also a nurse, bought her daughters the gender-neutral dolls that Mattel launched in 2019, and says they loved the fluid identities of those dolls.
She believes her own children and those she treats at the hospital understand the importance of frontline workers. "Our 6-year-old son wants to be a puppy doctor," she says. “Our 14-year-old son is interested in becoming a surgeon. But they have really learned the importance of nurses and doctors."
Even as O'Sullivan waxes lyrical about her doll, she admits she's not feeling particularly optimistic about the pandemic. "We just can't escape it," she says. “I see these young people without masks. And, you know, those are the people that COVID is affecting now, the younger generation. They are getting very sick. And it will never go away until we get vaccinated and wear masks.
The doll has hand-painted tattoos, silver hair and the colorful socks O'Sullivan wears to work every day, the nurse was particularly moved by the details of her doppelgänger.
Administrators used to have problems with my tattoos, hair, and rolled up pants. But I didn't want to be like anyone else...
I'm 58 years old, so I didn't have role models Chile Mobile Number List growing up. This, I think, shows boys and girls that it's okay to be different. It encourages them to be themselves.
Amy O'Sullivan, a nurse at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn.
Dolls to honor frontline personnel
The other five dolls are inspired by:
Dr. Audrey Sue Cruz, a Las Vegas doctor who campaigns against racial bias against Asian American doctors.
Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa, a Canada-based psychiatrist fighting racism in the healthcare system.
Sarah Gilbert, a professor in the United Kingdom who helped develop a COVID-19 vaccine.
Dr. Jaqueline Goes de Jesus, biomedical researcher who led the genome sequencing of the COVID-19 variant in Brazil.
Dr. Kirby White from Australia who developed reusable PPE for doctors.
The women each received their own one-of-a-kind doll, and the toy company announced it will donate $5 for every medical, nurse or paramedic Barbie sold at Target to the First Responders' Children's Program as part of its ThankYouHeroes Campaign, however, the tribute dolls are not for sale.
Mattel launched the campaign last year to give back to communities in need.
This fall, we certainly thought we would be further along in the pandemic… But it was important to honor these incredible medical workers around the world as we continue to face a difficult time.
Lisa McKnight, senior vice president of Mattel and global brand manager of the Barbie brand.
In its 62-year history, Barbie has had jobs as many different types of health care workers, in part, McKnight says, because children develop relationships with their pediatricians early on.
We hope these dolls can spark important conversations about the pandemic… While it's a somewhat scary topic, we think it opens the door to discussion of these frontline workers who are incredible role models.
Lisa McKnight, senior vice president of Mattel and global brand manager of the Barbie brand.
Mattel creates dolls to honor frontline workers
O'Sullivan says she never played with Barbies as a child, although she did play with Ken dolls. Her partner, who is also a nurse, bought her daughters the gender-neutral dolls that Mattel launched in 2019, and says they loved the fluid identities of those dolls.
She believes her own children and those she treats at the hospital understand the importance of frontline workers. "Our 6-year-old son wants to be a puppy doctor," she says. “Our 14-year-old son is interested in becoming a surgeon. But they have really learned the importance of nurses and doctors."
Even as O'Sullivan waxes lyrical about her doll, she admits she's not feeling particularly optimistic about the pandemic. "We just can't escape it," she says. “I see these young people without masks. And, you know, those are the people that COVID is affecting now, the younger generation. They are getting very sick. And it will never go away until we get vaccinated and wear masks.