Breaking Gender Stereotypes: How One Sports Doll Sparked a Movement for Girls’ Empowerment

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In this powerful and inspiring episode, we sit down with Jodi Bondi Norgaard, gender equality advocate, entrepreneur, author, and creator of the groundbreaking sports doll that challenged long-standing gender stereotypes in the toy industry.

Jodi shares her personal journey toward advocacy, including a pivotal “aha!” moment in a toy store where she noticed how deeply gender roles in toys shape children’s beliefs about who they are and what they can become. From dolls promoting beauty standards and fashion to toys limiting boys to aggression and action, Jodi recognized how early gender stereotypes in marketing begin to influence confidence and self-worth.

Motivated by the lack of positive, empowering toys for girls, Jodi created a sports doll with realistic body proportions, modeled after real children, not unrealistic beauty standards. Her mission wasn’t to replace fashion dolls, but to expand choice, allowing girls to see themselves as strong, athletic, capable, and confident.

Her vision quickly proved successful when her dolls sold out at the U.S. Open, reinforcing the demand for inclusive toys that promote female empowerment, body positivity, and gender equality. This success marked the beginning of a larger advocacy journey.

Jodi also opens up about how low self-esteem in women often begins in childhood, when girls start doubting their intelligence, strength, and worth. Through her work, speaking, and her book More Than a Doll: How Creating a Sports Doll Turned Into a Fight to End Gender Stereotypes, Jodi encourages women and girls to live unapologetically and reclaim their power.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in women’s empowerment, gender equality, inclusive entrepreneurship, conscious parenting, and breaking societal norms. Jodi leaves us with a powerful reminder: “It’s okay to rest—it’s not okay to give up.”

The next time you’re shopping, observe how products are marketed to men and women. What stereotypes are being reinforced? Awareness is the first step toward change, and better choices for ourselves and future generations.

#GenderEquality
#WomenEmpowerment
#BreakingGenderStereotypes
#InclusiveToys
#FeministPodcast
#GirlsConfidence
#FemaleEntrepreneur
#BodyPositivity
#EmpoweredWomen
#GenderRoles
#WomenInBusiness
#SocialImpact
#AdvocacyWork
#RaisingConfidentGirls
#PurposeDrivenBusiness
#EqualityForAll
#WomenSupportingWomen

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 2:44 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 6:41 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 10:58 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 13:24 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 36:05 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 40:21 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 49:31 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 55:58 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 59:56 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 1:02:15 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

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