If the overweight Barbie dolls and manbun-donning Ken aren’t instilling the right Progressive values for your kid, a new doll may soon be on the scene to teach your children about gender dysphoria.
A Kickstarter campaign by Gender Creative Kids is raising money to create an “educational” transgender matryoshka doll named Sam, with the mission of “stopping transphobia before it happens.”
According to an informational graphic on the Kickstarter page, Sam starts off as a girl, “happily unaware of what gender even is.” Over time, however, Sam begins “questioning,” becomes “conflicted” about her identity, turns “isolated,” then becomes “supported” by friends and family after transitioning to the theoretically correct gender identity.
The Kickstarter cautions, “Sam is just a toy” and “does not represent the path taken by every person,” “does not represent the full spectrum of emotions felt by any child,” and is not to be considered a diagnostic tool for parents to determine if their child is trans.
In the accompanying video for the Kickstarter, Sam begins out as a girl, but prefers playing with trucks, wearing hoodies, and pretending to be a construction worker. The video asserts that rather than just being a tomboy, like plenty of girls, Sam is actually trans due to her interest in traditionally masculine stuff:
“For a transgender child, it’s hard to make people see the you inside,” the video claims. “But we can help but it easier.”
Gender Creative Kids Vice President Annie Pullen Sansfaçon told the Daily Beast that being trans is a form of being "gender creative.”
She said, “We identified the lack of a practical tool to initiate conversation about gender identity with trans children — and with other children that may know a gender creative kid, or who are questioning their own gender.”
While the Kickstarter claims the doll is designed for “transgender youth and their families,” it also claims the doll can be used by “educational professionals.” One of the rewards for pledging CA$ 599 (approximately $445) is to give “SAM TO SCHOOLS!” The reward promises to give 10 toys and 10 educational books to be used in schools, by school boards, or in organizations.
By pledging CA$ 2,500 or more, 35 dolls and books will be sent to “35 Canadian schools and families” and Gender Creative Kids assures the dolls and books will be used by schools and families.
The Kickstarter is looking to raise $106,581 in 30 days. As of Wednesday, the project has raised $14,398 from 232 backers.
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