Dr. Rebecca Hains
Author, professor and speaker | Children's media culture, media literacy, and media criticism
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Barbie is 60. And she’s reinventing herself.
Mattel’s changes to an iconic doll reflect evolving demographics.
Read MoreKatniss vs Merida: Mattel’s doll versions of strong girl characters
Last month, Mattel released a Katniss Everdeen doll, inspired by the look and style of Jennifer Lawrence in the Hunger Games film. Compared with Mattel’s typical fare, the Katniss doll was refreshingly unsexualized–reflecting the character’s positive portrayal in the film (which…
Read MoreTalking about toys: Taking child’s play seriously
On occasion, people ask me why I bother taking children’s toys so seriously. “They’re just toys, after all!” Yes, toys are just toys–but they’re so much more than that, too. Toys are a central part of children’s play, and to…
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Dr. Rebecca Hains 
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