Go! Go! Sports Girls!

When I wrote the post about Barbies (We are All Barbies), I got some feedback, both positive and also some constructive in regard to the representation of women through dolls. Let me just say that I am fully aware of the lack of diversity in Barbie dolls representation of women's body sizes. I do know that Barbie's don't even represent realistic proportions but the post was meant as fun and somewhat empowering based on women's great characteristics. Moving on, I recently was contacted in regard to Go! Go! Sports Girls! dolls and their encouraging message, so I thought I would share because these are the kind of dolls that everyone can get on board with.

"Imagine browsing the store for toys with your 9-year-old daughter, and she picks up a doll wearing a half shirt, belly ring and eye shadow. "Mommy, is this doll for me to play with?" she asks. That's what happened to me, and it inspired me to create the Go! Go! Sports Girl doll collection.

The Go! Go! Sports Girls are plush, sports-themed dolls designed as a fun and educational way to promote self-appreciation and the benefits of daily exercise, healthy eating and sleeping habits, self-esteem and overall healthy life skills for girls.  The dolls are age appropriate and do not encourage an older or overly mature image.  The image is positive and innocent with a subtle yet strong message – appreciate and be true to yourself. 

I spent two years launching the product, from rough sketch to the fall of 2008 debut of the Tennis Girl doll at the U.S. Open in New York, where 500 dolls sold out in six days.  While designing the doll, I worked very closely with my consultant/daughter, the perfect person to help.  To ensure the dolls were in correct proportion to how girls are really built, I measured my daughter and her friends every time they came to our house.

The dolls have been honored with numerous awards, including the coveted Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award, and articles in magazines, newspapers, blogs, TV and radio interviews, as well as a feature on the Today Show.  The most recent press is from Parents.com naming the Go! Go! Sports Girls as one of “The Coolest Toys From Toy Fair 2012”.

-President Jodi Norgaard

I am really impressed with not just Jodi's message to young girls but also her entrepreneurial spirit. It's one of those stories that makes you really happy to be a woman who wants to pave her own way. My friend's neices are going to be all over these dolls and I might just have to be the gal that gives them one.

What do you think of Go! Go! Sports Girls?