I don’t remember having one of Mattel’s dolls as a kid, but I still knew of them.

Especially Ken and Barbie – the iconic pairing that has defined beauty ideals for well over the past 5 decades.

However, given where we are as a society, inclusivity and representations matter. Mattel’s new line, Creatable World – a series of gender-neutral dolls, is a welcome addition in this regard.

In 2016, the French toy-maker had a landmark overhaul to their products, when they added three new body types to the Barbie line.

Creatable World, then, is another step in the right direction, because dolls are more than toys: they are mediums of expression and identity and that involves gender-neutral, gender-fluid; everything beyond and everything in between. As the first of its kind, the series is immense for representation, and this is just one example.

It’s only been two days since the line was announced, but there is promise here. That an eight-year-old boy who is gender-fluid, or a seven-year-old girl who is non-conforming can have a toy that represents them and looks like them is huge.

In a few years, someone will study the impact of these toys, but for now, Mattel can pat themselves on the back. Well done!