UPDATE August 2018:

Since I wrote my column, blogger and journalist, Kelly Kasulis, has written probably one of the most thorough pieces I have yet seen on the history of Mattel’s attempts at making an Asian American doll. I recommend reading it: https://kkasulis.wordpress.com/2016/02/01/tracing-the-history-of-asian-barbie/

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There are many odd and offputting aspects to Mattel’s relationship to various depictions of Asian characters in their dolls over the decades. Another one is that in 1976, well before the poorly thought out 1981 “Oriental Barbie” (sic), was the “Honey Hill Bunch” miniature play doll “I.Q.” With an adorable little girl face sculpt, she was just another one of little kids in the “playmate”-themed line. But that name… Its problematic nature was further emphasized by her one toy accessory being a “book.” (The other children had animals, flowers, a guitar, or a baseball bat.) “I.Q.’s” back of the box story similarly leaned heavily on a stereotype that became omnipresent in the media by the early ’80s. (http://dollreference.com/mattel_honey_hill_bunch_dolls.html)