Transgender dolls and all that Jazz

Tonner Doll CompanyTonner Doll Company
By Andree Massiah
BBC Trending

A new toy billed as the world's "first transgender doll" has created a buzz on social media.

Thousands of tweets about the product unveiled by the Tonner Doll Company have been posted since it was announced that the doll would make its first appearance at this week's New York Toy Fair.

The doll is modelled on a teenage activist who was born a boy, but lives as a female. Jazz Jennings shot to fame when she was interviewed about her gender dysphoria by US TV presenter Barbara Walters.

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That was a decade ago, and Jennings is now 16. She said on her Facebook page: "I was assigned male at birth but was a girl right from the start. I expressed myself as a girl to my family by gravitating towards dolls, dresses, sparkles, and everything feminine. I didn't just like girly objects, but I heavily insisted that I WAS a girl."

Jazz Jennings on InstagramJazzJennings__/Instagram

Jazz Jennings was just six years old when she went on US television to talk about her gender dysphoria

The question on many people's lips on social media was: what exactly makes a doll transgender? In one post, the doll's makers explained how the doll is a likeness of Jennings, but doesn't have genitalia.

Tonner Doll Company: This is an 18" doll, much like that of every other child doll out there, a beautiful little girl that is Jazz, but the doll itself is hard plastic and vinyl and no specific parts, much like all the dolls we have created in this genre, a beautiful child doll...I hope that helps...Facebook

But the company also came in for criticism:

Patrick Senas: Sounds like a great marketing scheme actually. It's lot like the dolls are any different from the older generation dolls. Slap the label "transgender" on it and put a high sticker price on it and people will eat it up. Much like all the other fads like "gluten free" lolFacebook

Another person said any doll can be a transgender doll:

Andrea Eskin: I'm not sure I understand why we need to label a doll "transgender." Any doll could be transgender. What does it matter how the doll (or a person) came to look like a female or male? They are what they are.Facebook

But many others on Facebook welcomed the idea:

Fabiana Sana Sutton: I predict if we continue on this path new generation will be kinder, empathic and happier. This is the right side to choose at this very divided time in history!Facebook

As for Jazz's reaction to the doll, she wrote: "I love her. A portion of my proceeds will be donated to help trans youth who are struggling.

"I hope that it can place transgender people in a positive light by showing that we are just like all other people.

"Of course it is still just a regular girl doll because that's exactly what I am: a regular girl!"

Blog by Andree Massiah

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