An American toy manufacturer, JDK Products has created a storm of controversy with the launch of the Trash Talker Dolls. Dubbed as "racist", "offensive", "demeaning" and "foul" the dolls shout obscenities and supposedly stereotypical comments many of which are unprintable. The collection of seven talking cloth dolls includes a turbaned 'Mr Patel' from India, 'Lee Chan Li', a smiling Chinese man, a 'Pimp', 'Bubba' the Redneck, a Jewish American Princess called 'Babs', and 'Elton' and 'Marshall' a gay couple.

"The past several months have been pretty trying for those working towards multiculturalism." states Linh Thuy Song, Executive Director of the Mam Non, a Vietnamese community portal, which is one of the organisations campaigning to have the dolls recalled. "It seems that people are forgetting the merits behind cultivating a society based on tolerance, empathy, understanding, and diversity. This is an example of yet another manufacturer marketing stereotypical products. Though the market is supposedly not for kids under 14 years old, I'm alarmed that anyone, regardless of age, would find humour behind demeaning, racial and cultural characterisations."

Indeed, the turbaned Mr Patel dolls shouts out phrases like "In my country you would be dead already" and "Hamburger. Everything on it please, but no beef." Other allegedly stereotypical phrases are:

• "What are you doing, you dirty piece of faecal matter?"
• "Don't talk like that in front of my back."
• "I am needing to want sex with you now."

According to the website of The National Rug Master of Jacksonville, Florida, a wholesale distributor of these dolls, the trash tracker dolls are "Europe's Best Selling Toy. Trash Talkers first debuted in Germany early this year. Initially rejected by stores as "offensive", word-of-mouth propelled sales to 300,000 dolls in only three months. They are intended for individuals 14 and over. The creator of the dolls, JDK products, is cautiously optimistic about the results in the USA so far. According to VP Frank Makan, the dolls have attracted large crowds at the two trade shows where they were exhibited. "Our booth was always mobbed. Nobody expected these cute innocent looking dolls to say the things they say. We always have a fun time watching people's reactions.""

However many department stores in the USA have rejected the dolls, which typically retail for between $12.99 (£8) and $16.00 (£10), for fear of offending customers, and they were banned by both the San Francisco Gift Show and the Boston Gift Show in 2002.

The online Recall and Stop Production of "Trash Talkers" Dolls petition, created by the Asian Pacific American Coalition at the University of Illinois asserts that "JDK Products Inc. has been producing these seven Trash Talkers dolls that clearly promote stereotypes of several racial and gender groups. The appalling caricature of each doll's facial expression, clothing and spoken phrases mock and deride the people of the community it represents. For example, the dolls "Lee Chan Li and Mr. Patel" promote stereotypes of Asian Americans by depicting them with slanted eyes and broken English. The dolls "Elton" and "Marshall" clearly depict the stereotypes of gays in America. The doll "Babs" portrays a stereotypical Jewish-American Princess with a purse and shopping bag. The doll "Pimp Daddy" mocks African Americans by wearing heavy gold chains. The doll "Bubba" depicts White males as stereotypical redneck hicks with a TV remote control in one hand and a beer can in the other. In addition, JDK Products has taken this stance further by promoting an online game where one can literally bash these dolls as they say the offensive phrases. Each doll was purposely created on the basis of racial and gender stereotypes which are perpetuated in America through these products."

JDK Products even organised a contest inviting members of the public to send in comments under the title "Why I Hate Trash Talker Dolls" offering one of the dolls as a prize for the most vitriolic post. The company clearly relishes the media attention. On its website it highlights the fact that adult magazine 'Penthouse' has made the Trash Talker doll the "perfect gif for any red blooded American looking to strike a blow against political correctness. They're sure to offend your sister and have your mother clutching her heart and gasping, which of course means they are a must have for the politically incorrect and make the perfect gag gift."

But protestors who do not relish this form of humour can sign the online petition to recall and stop production of these demeaning dolls.
The petition can be found at http://www.petitiononline.com/dolls/

Click here The Trash Talker Dolls website.

Click here to sign a petition protesting against the Trash Talker Dolls.