Mattel
Risk Level:
Summary:
Mattel, a toy company, has used its corporate reputation and funds to support the LGBTQ movement. It created many ideological products including a Democrat Barbie, Republican Ken, the first gender-neutral doll, and a transgender Barbie. It advocates for the Equality Act and transgender sports. Mattel fails to protect employees from viewpoint discrimination and vets vendors for their LGBTQ policies. Mattel has not published its charitable giving policy but it does donate to religious organizations like Habitat for Humanity. For these reasons, Mattel receives a "High Risk" rating.
Has denied service to customers, suppliers, or vendors due to their political views or religious beliefs OR corporately boycotts, divests, or sanctions regions, people groups, or industries.
Mattel received a score of 100 on the Corporate Equality Index (CEI) from the Human Rights Campaign. Among other requirements, this means the company has pledged to vet vendors based on LGBTQ policies (1). There are no known instances of Mattel terminating business relationships because of political or religious beliefs.
Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.
Employment policies fail to protect against discrimination based on political affiliation/views and/or religion.
Mattel does not protect its employees against viewpoint discrimination (1).
Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.
In 2016, Mattel created a Democrat Barbie and Republican Ken, both packaged with both be packaged with a 4-year calendar and a pen for marking off the days until the next election (1). In 2019, Mattel created the world’s first gender-neutral doll. Mattel executive Kim Culmone stated, “Toys are a reflection of culture, and as the world continues to celebrate the positive impact of inclusivity, we felt it was time to create a doll line free of labels” (2). Mattel created its first-ever trans-Barbie in tribute to Laverne Cox, an LGBTQ activist (3)(4). Mattel also advocates for the Equality Act and transgender participation in youth sports (5)(6). During the Black Lives Matter movement, Mattel published a statement and started the Play Fair initiative in support of the movement (7)(8)(9).
Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.
Mattel donated $50,000 to It Gets Better an LGBTQ organization during Pride Month (1).
Uses corporate political contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.
Mattel has not used its PAC donations for ideological purposes (1).
All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
March 23, 2023
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