Gwen, the Latest American Girl Doll is Homeless
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American Girl's latest addition: Gwen the Homeless Girl
As a mother of three girls, I am well aware of the American Girl doll phenomenon. We’ve been to the giant store in Mall of America (Bloomington, MN), to check out the uber-expensive dolls and all the extras that can be purchased with each doll. None of my girls own any American Girl dolls. However, we do own many of the books and movies. When my oldest daughter was younger and struggling to learn to read due to a learning disability, the Kaya American Girl
Mattel is releasing a new American Girl Doll soon. Gwen, is a modern-day doll with a unique story: She’s homeless. Her father has left the family, forcing Gwen and her mom to live out of their car and in a homeless shelter until Gwen’s mom can find her feet and get them into an apartment. The interesting part about all of this? Gwen costs $95. I don’t know of any homeless person who will be dropping $95 on a doll for their kid. I’m not homeless and I won’t buy any of my girls one of these dolls for $95! I doubt that I would buy this particular doll if it cost less than $30. What kind of message is Mattel trying to send to American girls with Gwen?
American history is ripe with fantastic stories of women overcoming adversity. I understand that Mattel is attempting to tackle an issue that is concurrent with the times we live in, but really? Do we really want to turn “homelessness” into a toy? Gwen’s story itself is unfortunately one that many children live every day in this country. By giving that story and those children a voice through something as popular as the American Girl Doll collection, Mattel is helping to open up discussion, compassion and empathy for children in that situation. However, by creating a doll based on a homeless girl for which girls to play diminishes the importance of the story. What happens when the little girl, in matching outfits with her doll, walks up to a homeless person on the street and says “Hey, my doll is homeless, too!” Instead of creating empathy for the homeless, the potential for creating indifference is very high. Just like the studies about TV time and violence views causing children to become almost immune to death and destruction, so might a story of a homeless girl that is connected to a doll make children even less empathetic to the true story of homelessness.
And what about the story of the father leaving the family causing them to lose their home? What kind of image of a father is that? What kind of image of a mom is that? Are these characters people we really want our daughters to see? Divorce is unfortunately, very common in America, as is living in circumstances that are one paycheck away from losing everything. But in the long run, are these types of stories helpful to girls’ development of positive self-esteem, positive views of men, and self-reliance? Is this the way we, as a society, choose to depict these uncertain times? Like Mattel couldn’t find a better story of overcoming the challenges of today than one of a broken family living in a car? Why not a story of a child who lived through the horrors of 9/11? Or the story of a girl who’s mom is sent to Iraq or Afghanistan? Could Mattel not find anyone with those stories to tell? Or, instead of the mom losing the house because dad’s taken a powder, maybe mom takes it as an opportunity to fulfill her dream of owning her own small-business and Gwen goes on to college, teaching girls that women are as strong as men and can do anything they set their minds to and that, even now, the American Dream is alive and well?
I hope Mattel is planning on donating a portion of their profits from the Gwen doll collection to homeless shelters. I haven’t been able to find any documentation to show that this might be true. It would be a noble thing to do. However, that gesture wouldn’t be enough for me to pay $95 for a doll, but apparently there are thousands of parents who can and will spend that kind of money on a doll based on a homeless character in a book. I just hope they actually read the story to their girls and discuss what the story means before going to the American Girl Doll store for lunch and “Gwen’s” hair appointment in the doll salon.
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Well, Mattel being a big corp, and likely in the dem corner, they didn't want to have the story be she lost her home due to the screwed up economy and fools in the government sucking dads paycheck dry to give it to mommys who like lots of daddies. And I am sure they pay a real living wage in bumtickle molvakia or some nice country where it is made. Limousine liberal at its best.
Sorry folks, I know lots of people in hard places or tough times. I also see lots of folks who hang out on the square. They have plenty of bucks for 6 dollar packs of cigarette, and at night the bar is full, but the street is empty.
Man inflicts a lot on himself. There is plenty for those who need help, the rest are boat anchors. They need to get off their duffs. Sorry, the truth doesn't mean its fuzzy and nice to swallow.
Obama heads for Copenhagen to solicit Olympic Games for Chicago. I thought it was generally the case that state governors and city Mayors were the one's that solicited for Olympic Games in and near their respective cities and states. Obama must figure that spending time in Copenhagen to try and get the Olympic Games for Chicago is a critical national issue.
It really doesn't matter that he could take a day or two and spend with the Secretary of Defense, General McCrystal and the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US Military. No, that wouldn't be any fun and it surely wouldn't help his favorite city, Chicago in their effort to get the games. No national security and the lives of our troops are not as important. I am sure that this trip is of utmost urgency. You know another crisis or if they don't get the games it would precipitate a crisis!
We the people are not asking President Obama to go to Copenhagen to benefit his home town. When it comes down to it most of us don't give a damn if Chicago gets the Olympics! Mr. Obama, You are no longer part of Chicago’s administration, you are no longer a sometimes senator from Illinois! You are the President of the United States and it is time you at least act Presidential! No more campaign speeches, no more burying your head in the sand. Clean those damned big ears of yours and LISTEN to the PEOPLE not your groupies! Quit giving oral emphasis and do something that will actually be good for the country and all of the people. Stop violating our civil rights by letting your succubus’s demand people and companies stop telling the truth about the various "Health Care" plans! We have a CONSTITUTION AND YOU SWORE TO UPHOLD IT FROM ALL ENEMIES FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC! DO YOUR JOB! QUIT PANDERING TO IRAN, RUSSIA AND THE MUSLIM WORLD! QUIT APOLOGIZING! DO YOUR JOB!
Mr. Obama, you were not voted in to "Fundamentally change America" we want change yes, that change is get rid of corruption instead of being corrupt. Do you still meet with SEIU and Acorn in the White House on a regular basis? Change we also want is less government ergo less government control of our lives. Less taxes for everyone. Low cost energy, have you heard of Natural gas, nuclear power, why did you drop the funding for Hydrogen cars?
I can think of far to many issues that are far more important than the Olympics!
On another note and then I will end. Have any of you seen the AD on FNC that reveals companies doing business in Iran? UANI.com It is sponsored by GE! GE was one of the main violators of doing business in IRAN back when a crackdown involved Halliburton, GE and others but GE was supplying components that could have a military use! They sponsor this! Pot calling the kettle Black. We should put all companies doing business with our enemies out of business!
Another American MAD as hell!
Death Panels;
Sarah Palin has faced much criticism over the "Death Panels" statement. I do not claim to know her mind or exactly what she meant. But in my mind she is not far off the mark. I don't believe she was referring to End of Life counseling. Instead I would submit this: The panel of people overseeing who gets what care (in the Government run plans) would be the one's to determine if a person can be productive enough to expend insurance dollars on. For instance I now live on disability. If I needed a major surgery to continue living would I be considered as productive enough to be allowed this surgery?Or would they say "If he doesn't have the surgery we save this money plus we save disability payments and the money from monthly doctor visits, prescriptions…Or a disabled child? "Well he won't have a quality of life that we think justifies the financial outlay."
To me this would be a Death Panel!
Ken, stop it.. The truth has me rolling in the aisles. Hey and how about the president of France, let me say again France, has to lecture him on realities of weapons war and his dream world.
Yup Mr Biden, he is the MAN OF STEAL!!!!!!!! No I spelled it correctly folks.
France, yer killin' me, home of the tank with one forward and six reverse gears, that France????? Omigosh! FRANCE!!!! Lecture us on standing up straight!!!!!!!
Oh you stop it or I will send my wifes arms to slap your face…..If it weren's so sad, it really would be a hoot. Go back to Chicago and eat pizza you lame excuse for a man.