Why the Campaign to Get the “Trolls” Doll Removed from Shelves Actually Harms Children
Let’s start simple. Yes, human trafficking and child sexual abuse are absolutely real, horrific issues. No, the Trolls doll is not designed to groom children to be victims of pedophilia.
Last week, a video showing a Trolls World Tour character doll went viral. In it, a woman discusses a feature of a Trolls doll named Poppy. She points to a “button” between the doll’s legs and claims that when pressed makes a “gasping sound.” She claims that the doll was created to groom children to be victims of sexual abuse.
This video drove a Change.org petition furthering these claims.
At the time of publication, the petition has garnered 489,761 signatures.
The harsh reality that initially prompted the panic over the Poppy doll is that, yes, child abuse can happen to any child.
But independent fact checkers and multiple sources have debunked these claims as at least “partly false.”
The Instagrammer @redpillbabe originally posted the video with a variety of conspiracy-related hashtags (including #pizzagateisreal). The video has been shared primarily with the hashtag #SaveTheChildren, which has been shown to be associated with the far-right conspiracy theory QAnon.
The “button” is in fact a sensor that causes the doll to giggle when she is placed in a sitting position. Although the viral video claims the button is not mentioned on the product box, the Hasbro product description includes, “when you sit her down, she makes other funny sounds, too!”
Still, Hasbro responded by pulling the product from the stores and admitting the placement of the sensor may have been perceived as inappropriate.
So, poor design? Absolutely. Pedophile-grooming tool? Get real.
It would be comforting to know that pedophilia and child sexual abuse could be solved by signing petitions and undercovering some secret truth discovered by sleuths on Facbook and Instagram. It would be much easier if there were some secret elite club of predators that would one-and-done the trauma of children around the globe, or even just in California.
The realities of pedophilia, child sexual abuse, human trafficking, psychological grooming, and the complex set of circumstances that leave victims trapped and often enable predators to get away with such crimes is much murkier and more painful.
Lori Cohen, the executive director of anti-trafficking organization ECPAT-USA, told The New York Times, “This is not happening in some secret cabal. It’s happening in every single community. But it’s easier to focus on public figures than to think about the reality that trafficking is happening in our midst, among people we know, to children we know.”
And throwing around or even fiercely promoting hashtags risen from extremist views does far more harm than good.
There are ways to “save the children.” Listen to them. Speak up for them. Educate yourself.
Although spreading awareness via social media can be a useful tool, using the #SaveTheChildren and other conspiracy-driven hashtags and reposting about the Poppy doll just ends up associating real issues with harmful extremism, distracts from more useful advocacy, and sends people down rabbit holes.
Ultimately, these actions harm children who need real help.
No matter what, the statistics of child sexual abuse in particular may shock the unfamiliar person. One in 9 girls and 1 in 53 boys under the age of 18 experience sexual abuse or assault at the hands of an adult. In the U.S., every 9 minutes child protective services substantiates, or finds evidence for, a claim of child sexual abuse.
RAINN (Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network) finds that, according to Center for Sex Offender Management, only 33.9 percent of sexual assaults against persons 12 years or older were reported to law enforcement. Current research does not track the rate of reporting for child sexual abuse for children younger than 12 years of age.” RAINN also reports only 1 in 5 adult women who have experienced sexual violence report it or seek help, with reasons cited including “fear of reprisal,” “believed it was not important enough to report,” and “believed police would not help or could not do anything to help.” Finally, only a fraction of abusers who commit sexual violence are arrested and convicted.
The reality is many individuals, like those at RAINN and other nonprofits, commit their entire lives to helping children. If we look closely, we can see the endless hours and nonstop efforts poured into work educating, spreading awareness, creating safe spaces, pursuing leads, prosecuting predators, and advocating for victims.
Fortunately, these experts offer well-researched insight into the terrible realities of child sexual abuse and give clear evidence-based approaches of prevention on both the individual and policy level, as well as ways to support survivors.
How can you “save the children” and prevent child sexual abuse?
According to evidence and research from experts, you can:
- Educate yourself, your community, and the public. The discussion of child sexual abuse is still taboo, which silences victims and enables abusers. By researching and spreading awareness of the realities of child sexual abuse, you make space for victims and survivors to speak and tell their stories and help spur awareness and policy changes.
- Shift the responsibility of preventing abuse from child victims to the adults. Adults must educate themselves and other adults about the truth of how to take affirmative action to protect children, how to appropriately detect abuse when it occurs, and how to help survivors.
- Strengthen existing programs and pursue innovative methods of prevention and support. Examine what works and advocate for it. Be open to new evidence-backed ways of doing things.
The harsh reality that initially prompted the panic over the Poppy doll is that, yes, child abuse can happen to any child. As explained by Prevent Child Abuse America, “Child sexual abuse occurs in all populations. It happens to children in all socioeconomic and educational levels, across all racial and cultural groups, and in both rural and urban areas.”
However, perhaps the harshest reality is that the vast majority of abusers are someone the victim knows. A relative, a religious leader, a neighbor, teacher, coach, babysitter, or friend. Studies indicate that “approximately 60 percent of boys and 80 percent of girls who were sexually victimized were abused by someone the child knew.”
The easiest, most immediate action a parent or other caring adult can take is to talk about it.
Children cannot tell you about something they don’t have the words to describe. Yes, it is awkward and uncomfortable to talk about, but that is part of the problem.
Give children the words they need to own their body, protect it, and speak up if needed. Use the words “penis” and “vulva” just like you would “elbow” and “ear.”
Nonprofit Mama Bear Effect explains, “We cannot change what we don’t understand. We cannot change what we won’t face. We understand that child sexual abuse can seem uncomfortable to talk about. But the reality is, it is a very serious threat [to] the safety and well being of all children… Thinking that it couldn’t happen to someone we know or that it is too uncomfortable to discuss can very well enable abuse and keep a child or adult survivor from speaking out.”
Practice age-appropriate consent and bodily autonomy with your children. This can be as simple as not forcing a child to kiss or hug anyone they don’t want to.
Give children the words they need to own their body, protect it, and speak up if needed. Use the words “penis” and “vulva” just like you would “elbow” and “ear.”
Begin the conversation. Use resources and assistance from experts to help you. Encourage open communication with your child. Set the example of not keeping secrets.
Finally, on a very personal note, as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and as a mother, I offer my personal perspective. There are ways to “save the children.” Listen to them. Speak up for them. Educate yourself.
Start by checking out these nonprofits committed to helping children:
Prevent Child Abuse America
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children
Committee for Children: Early, Open, Often
Consider donating or volunteering for them or for other nonprofits in your community. Finally, avoid distracting yourself and others from the real problems at hand. Always fact check.
There is real work to be done.
