What the Famous “Doll Test” Taught Us — And Why Representation Still Matters

Back in the 1940s, two psychologists, Mamie and Kenneth Clark, ran what’s now known as the “doll test.” They gave Black children two dolls — one white, one Black — and asked questions like “Which doll is nice?” or “Which doll looks bad?”

The heartbreaking result? Many children pointed to the white doll as “good” and the Black doll as “bad.” The Clarks concluded that the lack of positive representation in toys and media was shaping how kids saw themselves — and not in a healthy way.

Why this still matters today

It’s been decades since the doll test, but the lesson hasn’t gone away. Toys send messages. When kids don’t see dolls that look like them, they notice. And those missing reflections can quietly plant seeds of doubt: Am I not beautiful? Am I not the hero of my own story?

Representation is confidence

On the flip side, when a child finds a doll with features like their own, something shifts. It’s a gentle affirmation that you belong, just as you are. For Asian American families, finding dolls that celebrate Asian features is still harder than it should be — which is exactly why we created Poco Pals.

Poco Pals: soft affirmation in every cuddle

Our Asian plush dolls are designed to give kids that simple but powerful mirror. They’re safe for ages 3+ (CPSC certified), snuggly, and made with the belief that every child deserves to grow up proud of who they are.

✨ Representation starts with play. Meet Poco Pals Asian Plush Dolls here →