It’s ironic that a line of products that is almost completely based on traditionally male archetypes such as guns and violence was originally conceived as 'dolls for boys'. Of course, at the time that GI Joes were conceived in the early 1960s, no one associated with their development was allowed to refer to them as such. Instead, the more masculine 'action figure' term was coined to appeal to the sensibilities of young boys and their discerning parents.

GI Joe collectibles