From playful protests to toy activism

Beginning from the presupposition that some instances of play are also political acts, Katriina Heljakka focuses on a serious form of adult toy play that blends both paidic (open-ended) and ludic (goal-oriented) elements and considers the two in relation to activism. In this context, toys, such as Barbie dolls, have been harnessed for activism, addressing issues like gender pluralism, racism (as seen in the Black Lives Matter campaign), and animal rights. Heljakka shifts focus to toy activism within visual culture and fine art, analyzing the political agenda behind Activist Barbie. Through the examination of tweets from the human players of these toys, the chapter explores how play(ful) activism can advance gender equality.