Recently, the American Girl company (owned by Mattel, the makers of Barbie) came out with a new doll named "Gwen Thompson". Gwen looks like all the other American Girl dolls, and also comes with books about her "life". But this Gwen did not grow up in an interesting time period--she's the limited edition doll for 2010. And she's homeless.New York Post has an article that bashes this idea, saying that this tells young girls that "men are bad. Fathers abandon women without cause. She's also telling me that women are helpless. And that children in this great country, where dolls sell for nearly 100 bucks a pop, are allowed to sleep in motor vehicles. But mothers don't lose custody over this injustice. Because, you see, they are victims, too"
So is this a bad sign, that middle-class America is willing to pay $95 for a homeless doll?
CBS news thinks not. In their article, they cite many mothers shopping for their daughters who are glad that some awareness is being raised.
Shockingly, though, profits from this doll will not be going to help homeless people. However, the company has given half a million dollars to HomeAid, a non profit group that helps the homeless find housing.
So who are these dolls being sold to? Both articles discussed this, saying that the dolls are directed at young girls, around the age of 8. But Gwen is undoubtedly too expensive for a homeless child, so she would be sold to children whose parents can afford Gwen, most likely those in the middle-class.
Is it right to have a homeless doll? The American Girl company has multi-racial dolls, and previously, only one who truly suffered financially (the one from the Great Depression). What do you think?
This is a bizarre doll indeed. But to be honest, I'm shocked that major news sources like the New York Post and CBS would publish such indepth, opinionated articles discussing the impact Gwen could have on children. I don't think either of the aticles presented very strong arguements, maybe afew useful quotes, but no more. The fact is, Gwen certainly does not look like a homeless down. She is as clean, cute, and well dressed as any doll I have ever seen. In truth, the kids who buy "her" probably don't give two schnitzles about the little book book that makes the package. They will probably just recognize Gwen as the poor American Girl doll. Great Depression, 20's, black, Native American, jewish, and poor. One quote in the CBS article from Tanya Boyd, president of Beyond Shelter, did seen to provide a valid and worrisome message, "I'm afraid that they're going to pick up the idea that it's OK, that's it's an accepted segment of society that some children are homeless and some children are not." Because Gwen looks like every cute, clean doll ever made, children might pick up the idea that homeless children are just as happy and pleasant as their imaginations have created Gwen to be. So, about your question. Yes, I think it's fine. As I said before, I don't think kids who get these dolls really care about the story in the book. If a child does come to the conclusion that it is ok for kids to be homeless, that it is just a part of life, I think that belief will deteriorate as they grow older and wiser. I realluy don't know why they created this doll. "She" looks anything but homeless. They could put a hat and cowboy boots on the same model, call "her" Luanne, and probably sell twice as many dolls.
ReplyDeleteI think an idea that the company could consider would be creating a doll like this sold for less money so people who are affected by the issue it speaks to can purchase it. Yes, theoretically, a doll a back story like homelessness can be a good way to raise awareness on the issue, but I think it would be more beneficial and practical for the company to also donate directly to the cause. In reality, what kind of message are they sending by giving wealthy young girls a doll that looks like countless others? Not many little girls care about the story as much as the doll since they create their own anyway, making the cause slightly pointless.. The American Girl company has money to spare, and I think that if they really wanted to help this cause, there's a lot more they could do to show it.
ReplyDeleteThat's true Sophie--what you said about the American Girl company have a lot of money. They actually do give quite a bit to HomeAid, but it would be nice seeing a direct relationship between such a unique doll and a charity.
ReplyDeleteWhen you were little, did you disregard the stories? For me, the stories were just as important as the doll, which is why I never bought a look like me doll.
Another interesting thing from the articles is that the story says that she and her mom were forced to sleep in their car, but I don't think it directly says "homeless". Is there a difference?
Andy, I liked your point about how she doesn't look any different from the other dolls. This is definately going to be a problem (or maybe the opposite) when girls read her story and start thinking that homelessness and cute exist together.