Feminists with a Passion for Fashion

As children, almost all of us had a few special toys that we loved dearly. With our wild imaginations and our desires to explore different worlds through imaginative play, we often thought of our toys as various characters in different scenarios. For me and many other young girls, fashion dolls held an especially powerful allure. With their sparkly eyes, beautiful faces, and runway ready outfits, these fashion dolls were presented not only as trendsetters, but also as visions of who we could one day become. But beneath these dolls’ surfaces, there often came messages of individuality, equality, and empowerment. My current research study aims to identify the ways in which fashion dolls have helped shape women’s identities and feminist ideals, with a particular interest in exploring how childhood fashion doll play may correlate with the development of feminist identity, openness to feminist ideals, and receptivity to feminist therapy in adulthood.