Daniel Macht

Barbie Releases Dolls Honoring Rosa Parks, Sally Ride

The dolls are the latest in Barbie's "Inspiring Women" series

Mattel has released new Barbie dolls that pay tribute to civil rights activist Rosa Parks and astronaut Sally Ride, the first American woman in space. 

The dolls, which were timed to coincide with Women's Equality Day on Monday, are the latest in Barbie's "Inspiring Women" series. 

"These historical women broke boundaries that made the world a better place for future generations of girls," Mattel said.

Parks was called the "mother of the modern civil rights movement" after she famously refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger in 1955 during segregation. Her arrest led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott. After decades of activism, she went on to be awarded the presidential medal of freedom, among other honors. 

Her doll features a floral dress under a wool coat and has a pillbox hat and clutch accessories, a Mattel blog post notes

Ride became the first American woman, and youngest, to fly in space as an astronaut on-board the space shuttle Challenger in 1983. Her doll comes in a flight suit modeled after Ride's and has a removable helmet as well as a headset accessory. 

"Ride's adventurous nature, quest for discovery, and pioneering accomplishments inspire girls everywhere to boldly reach for the stars," Mattel's blog post said. 

Parks died in 2005 and Ride in 2012.

Both dolls retail for $29.99. The Parks one is available on Walmart.com and Barbie.com. The Ride doll is sold on Target.com and Barbie.com.  

Each come with a doll stand and certificate of authenticity. Packaging tells the women's stories and includes quotes. 

Mattel launched its "Inspiring Women" Barbie series on International Women's Day in March of 2018 with dolls featuring the likeness of pilot Amelia Earhart, Mexican artist Frida Khalo and mathematician Katherine Johnson, the NASA worker whose story was told in the movie "Hidden Figures."

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