On Representation and Toys: The importance of Seeing Yourself in The Toys You’ve played With

This is a story that I’ve told many times, and each time I do I start to understand my mom just a little bit more in her buying habits when I was a little girl. Let me explain. Last Christmas season I was out shopping with my mom and we were attempting to find gifts for all my many god brothers and sisters. We stumbled upon a bunch of Doc McStuffins dolls. If you’re unfamiliar, it’s the Disney Junior animated show aimed at children ages 2-5 that features an ADORABLE little brown girl as the titular character who is on a mission to fix broken toys that need her help.   The Doc, herself.  Square Up! My mom got real quiet as she picked up that Doc McStuffins doll.  I picked up one too and pulled on her pigtails and looked back to my mom who was still as quiet as a church mouse, looking into the face of that doll. We continued shopping and I told her looking back into the store as we exited that IF there were any more laying around after Christmas, I’d buy her one. THE EXACT DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS, I WENT BACK AND BOUGHT THAT DAMN DOLL. (It was NOT on sale, mind you, but the smile on my momma’s face was so worth it. Seriously.)   One of my proudest moments, y’all. “Best Daughter Ever” Achievement Unlocked. When my mom was younger, she survived a horrific childhood accident that left her hospitalized for months on end. She remembered the nurses that came to check up on her and that would later inspire her to become a nurse as well. But as a five year old girl, she told her …