I chose this doll with glasses for my daughter because I appreciated that the doll’s facial features look naturalistic, not exaggerated, and even a bit like my Asian-American daughter. Note, though, that some of the descriptions of dolls in Miniland’s online catalog are problematic. For example, the company labels dolls as “Asian,” “African,” or “Hispanic,” even though children with the dolls’ physical characteristics—such as black hair or light or dark brown skin tones—could come from any number of different cultures and backgrounds. Many retailers adopt the same language, though this type of labeling is not on the doll packaging itself. Other companies whose dolls we considered, including Götz and Lakeshore Learning, used similar naming conventions for their dolls. Mar Ivars, Miniland’s chief innovation officer, told me that the company is working with AIJU, UNESCO, and other organizations to conduct international doll focus groups, and it plans to ultimately unveil new doll nomenclature.
