If a kiddo was to look below the outfit of a female LOL Surprise Doll, they'll be met with a flat surface. But the same can longer be said for the newer male dolls that may offer the biggest surprise of all — instead of smooth plastic in the genital region, there's something much more distinct, and parents aren't pleased. Many are turning to Twitter to express their outrage over the realistic-looking male genitals on the popular kids' toys. The manufacturer, MGA Entertainment, isn't backing down from the critics, however. It seems the new trend in anatomically correct, gender-inclusive toys is here to stay whether parents like it or not.
LOL Surprise Dolls are now "gender inclusive," meaning a boy toy features testicles and a penis.
Although this change was reportedly first introduced last year, many parents are still discovering this new "surprise" for the first time and don't believe it's an age-appropriate addition to their holiday purchases. "Can someone please tell me why the heck my daughters lol surprise doll came with a surprise?" one parent wrote on Facebook. "Am I crazy to think its highly inappropriate to put a penis and testicles on my daughters toy. I am so extremely p–sed."
Part of the "surprise" of these dolls is that parents and kids don't know which they are getting before they purchase it. That makes some parents even more unsettled with this new "detail."
MGA Entertainment introduced the male dolls to be more inclusive and stands behind that decision.
The company reportedly wrote in a social media statement that the new ultra-rare Punk Boi is "universally gender-inclusive for both boys and girls."
The company also pointed out that for many years, the toy industry has been headed toward anatomically correct toys after consumers had been complaining and criticizing toymakers for blurring over basic gender differences.
“We believe this trend is here to stay and we will continue to lead the charge in toys becoming more gender-inclusive. We think boys will be excited to have a doll that looks like them. Also, many of our girl fans have brothers of their own and will be excited their LOL Surprise dolls have a ‘real’ brother, just like they do.”
It seems many people are apparently not ready for the change some parents requested.
"If this is the statement you want to use, why do we not see female dolls with vulvas, labias and clitorises? Because that is NOT what the industry is moving towards! I've asked this question before and you've yet to answer," another angry parent wrote on Facebook. "Still waiting…. still wondering why the boys have penises and testicles but the girls have 1 hole."
Other parents agree: This detail isn't the "surprise" they wanted to show their children.
Twitter user Alyson Cadena wrote, "@MGAEnt you really put the “Surprise” in LOL Surprise when you put a whole penis and balls on the male LOL doll my poor, innocent little niece got. Thanks for that awkward and unnecessary conversation."
"My 5 year old daughter loves your stuff but we were forced into an uncomfortable situation upon opening her newest LOL doll," another parent shared on Facebook. "Santa has spent hundreds of dollars on LOL dolls for Christmas and I will be very upset if there are more with genitalia. Please be more considerate. The world forces them to grow up fast enough."
But other parents don't see the big deal: It's just another part of the human body.
One Twitter user pointed out the obvious: Genitals are only offensive if you make them that way. "Parents are offended by body parts? There’s nothing offensive about this, teach your kids proper terms and that yes, there ARE difference."
"Willow opened her new LOL surprise doll at a very busy restaurant … [she] ripped the doll’s pants off and yelled “Look- IT HAS A PENIS! I don’t like the penis! I don’t like the penis! I don’t want the penis!” I went from shock that the doll does in fact have a penis, to pride that my kids call things by their correct names, to fear that the cops were about to be called on us," another parent joked.
In a deep-dive article on the issue of sex abuse prevention, The Atlantic noted that kids who were taught to use correct words for body parts and to not feel ashamed of their body parts were less likely to become targets of abuse. Why? Because kids who are comfortable knowing their bodies well probably have an adult they trust teaching them things such as body autonomy, consent, and self-respect at home.
CafeMom contacted MGA Entertainment about the male dolls but has not received a reply.
It's not likely that the LOL Surprise Dolls are going anywhere after this spate of controversy. In a recent tweet, MGA ENtertainment noted that their dolls are more popular than Frozen 2. So if nothing else, this can be a teaching tool for parents.
