Would you buy your little girl a homeless doll… for $95?
If you answered “no,” did you do so because you didn’t think your daughter would be interested in playing with a doll whose family has been hit by the financial crises and must sleep in their car, or are you more offended that a doll manufacturer would require that you drop nearly $100 for the privilege of schooling your kid in Homelessness 101?
Dropping $100 (not including hair accessories) on a doll? Heck, at that price we’ll all end up sleeping in our cars, and then our daughters can learn about homelessness first hand.
Much to do about Gwen Thompson.
The newest addition to the American Girl collection of dolls is causing quite a stir these days.
Gwen’s story is sad, but not all that uncommon in our current economic climate.
According to the doll’s manufacturer, Gwen’s been living with a secret: She’s been cohabitating at a homeless shelter with her mom. Apparently, Gwen’s mom lost her job, her dad abandoned the family, and mommy dearest fell behind on the house payments. Things got so bad for a while that Gwen and her mom were forced to live in their car before finding shelter at a homeless facility.
So here’s the problem with Gwenny, according to critics:
The cute blonde doll, who comes with a gorgeous white sundress featuring a pretty pink sash and matching pink slippers, tries to “politically indoctrinate” kids by telling them that “men are bad and women are hopeless.”
Did I mention the doll is $95?
Who cares what subconscious message the piece of plastic is trying to teach girls, I’m wondering who the heck has 100 bucks to drop on a toy? I highly doubt homeless girls will be rushing out to buy Gwen and take her back to their local homeless shelter.
Not to rip on the American Girl brand. The company has gone a long way to give voice to girls from all over the American experience. The manufacturer offers African-American dolls, an American-Indian doll, an Asian-American version, a Jewish one, a doll who lived during the Great Depression, even one from the Roaring ’20s.
And now one that is homeless.
The folks at American Girl don’t see a problem with selling a doll that once lived in a motorized vehicle.
In fact, their message to potential customers is simple: Your kid can learn a lot from a homeless girl.
Would you buy your daughter a homeless doll for $95?
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