McKenna Pope: Want to be an activist? Start with your toys

TL;DR

McKenna Pope shares her story about how she convinced Hasbro to change the marketing of the Easy-Bake Oven to be more inclusive.

Transcript

I'm McKenna Pope. I'm 14 years old, and when I was 13, I convinced one of the largest toy companies, toymakers, in the world, Hasbro, to change the way that they marketed one of their most best-selling products. So allow me to tell you about it. So I have a brother, Gavin. When this whole shebang happened, he was four. He loved to cook. He was alwa... Read More

Key Insights

• 👧 The marketing of Easy-Bake Ovens by Hasbro was gender-specific, discouraging boys from wanting to cook and perpetuating stereotypes.
• 🌈 Change.org, an online petition-sharing platform, helped the speaker create a petition to ask Hasbro to change their marketing strategy.
• 👥 The petition gained significant traction, with 46,000 signatures in three weeks, leading to national news coverage and an invitation from Hasbro to their headquarters.
• 🎗️ This experience made the speaker realize the power of activism and the importance of using her voice, even as a kid.
• 🚫 She faced obstacles and negativity, with disrespectful comments online, discouraging her from pursuing further change in the future.
• ♀️ However, she learned to ignore the haters and continue making a difference.
• 💪 The speaker encourages others to take action and believes that everyone has the ability to make change through social media platforms.
• 🔥 Using the spark within oneself, individuals can turn it into a fire and bring about meaningful change in the world.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did McKenna Pope manage to convince Hasbro to change the way they marketed the Easy-Bake Oven?

McKenna created a petition on Change.org and shared it across various social media platforms. Within a few weeks, she gathered 46,000 signatures, which caught the attention of national news outlets. As a result, Hasbro invited her to their headquarters and unveiled a new version of the Easy-Bake Oven in black, silver, and blue.

Q: Why did McKenna want Hasbro to change the way they marketed the Easy-Bake Oven?

McKenna's younger brother, Gavin, had a passion for cooking but felt discouraged from pursuing it because the Easy-Bake Oven was marketed exclusively to girls. The flowery prints, pink and purple colors, and absence of boys in the commercials implied that cooking was a feminine activity, which upset Gavin. McKenna wanted to challenge these gender stereotypes and promote inclusivity.

Q: What obstacles did McKenna face during her campaign?

McKenna encountered disrespectful comments and criticism online, with people questioning her motives and belittling her efforts. These negative remarks hurt her and made her doubt the worthiness of her cause. However, she learned to brush off the haters and focus on her mission to create change.

Q: What message did McKenna want to convey to her audience?

McKenna wanted to inspire others by sharing her story and emphasizing that everyone's voice matters. She believed that even as a young activist, she could make a difference. Despite facing obstacles and negativity, she encouraged her audience to embrace their beliefs, use social media platforms to spread their message, and turn their passion into a cause for change.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• McKenna Pope convinced Hasbro, a large toy company, to change the way they marketed their Easy-Bake Ovens, which were previously marketed only to girls.

• She created a petition on Change.org, which gained 46,000 signatures in just a few weeks, and caught the attention of national news outlets.

• Despite facing obstacles and disrespectful comments online, McKenna realized that her voice as a young activist mattered and encouraged others to make change.