Jezebel 
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New York, 9:16 AM
Wed Dec 2
68 posts in the last 24 hours
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09/25/09
And when I fell in love with Molly, I caught the WWII bug that really never left. I had heard about the Pacific side of the battle from my grandfather, but it was like two different wars, so learning how it affecting Molly was really awesome as a kid. The books were such a great addition to my early love of history and memoirs.
09/25/09
I get why they're popular an all but I hope, when my daughter gets old enough to want dolls, she has better taste than that.
If you want to teach your daughter some history, take the $80 and get museum membership instead.
09/25/09
09/25/09
If that's the case then it's too bad. I like the idea of them and just about anything that inspires kids to read is a good thing in my book.
Frankly, I'd never heard of them until they opened a store at The Grove. On any given day I can see people walk out of that store with bags the size of a Smart car. Economic depression be damned I guess.
09/25/09
We caught the movie on television and I am shocked to say that even her young age, the bullying story got to her. If there's one effing thing in this world that I cannot tolerate, it's bullies and I'll be darned if my kid didn't make me cry with pride when she came home from preschool the other day and told me a story of how she helped defend a little kid who was being picked on. The Chrissa story really resonated with her, and for that I find value in AG. Of course I also try to reinforce these positive messages, but it's good to also have them in the form of entertainment.
And damn if these things aren't well made. I'd rather pay $75 (or even $95) for a well crafted doll than 10 pieces of ten dollar crap from Wal-Mart. Plus, of all her toys, this holds her interest the most and she still plays with it regularly six months after getting it.
09/25/09
We received a reply that the market wasn't right for the introduction of an Asian American.
Since then we've written an updated letter every couple of years (whenever they introduce a new doll), congratulating them on the doing so and asking when they're going to release an Asian American.
So far, the market still isn't right...
09/25/09
09/25/09
09/25/09
09/25/09
I have about 20 Dear America books on my shelf...first started reading them around 1996, when I was 12.
09/25/09
09/24/09
Samatha's bud Nellie had a thing or two to do with that.
09/24/09
As for the price of the dolls, that will never make sense to most people. Just remember that the price point is high because the original dolls under the Pleasant Co. were pricey. Justifiably so since they very sturdy, well made, and their clothes were impeccably made out of natural fibers... in the 80s! You can see the difference in construction if you look at the Pleasant Co clothes and the newer ones. Mattel could probably stand to lower their prices since their quality is not the same as Pleasant Co.
I am a big cheerleader for the American Girls dolls since I kind of think they teach girls all sorts of nice liberal ideals, like compassion. Many crazy conservative parents don't even realize that their child is learning all about things like labor laws and immigration. I swear, the Samantha books are chock full of feminism and activism.
09/24/09
Yes, the irony is sweet, but the homeless girl reflects what's going on in society. It might actually hit home deeper for middle and upper-middle class girls to read about someone who is homeless and to connect to a character than to have the deeply "othering" experience of buying things for a homeless shelter and giving them away.
So what I'm trying to say is that my two American Girl Dolls might still be sitting in my room on stands and I might still change their clothes when I'm home.
09/24/09
Fuck you, American Girl
09/24/09
09/24/09
09/25/09
09/24/09
09/24/09
This all sounds a bit cliched, but I am really frightened by how many well-intentioned movies and books (both classic and contemporary) feature girls or young women as the heroines, whose most valuable qualities are that they are sweet or nice.
example 1:
Betsy Tacy books. My mom recommended them to me and I was nauseous after 3 pages of Heaven to Betsy. No offense to anyone who liked these books. but her chief concerns upon starting high school are how to get the guy she likes and bumble through the math class that she can't stand because it is just so hard. It probably is harder than it needs to be just because she keeps telling herself it is hard.
example 2:
waaaay too many animated princess movies. no explanation needed.
Girls need to know that they can actually pursue what they like and choose their own lives and get things done, besides sweetly following directions and worrying about everyone else and all with dinner on the table by 6 pm.
09/25/09
09/24/09
09/24/09
Anything that encourages young girls to play like young girls is positive, in my book.
Anyhow, I don't see how this Gwen doll is any more patronizing than Samantha's less-fortunate friend Nellie. It's just another way to gently introduce little girls to real-world problems. Hopefully it will encourage girls to ask their parents difficult questions, and spark meaningful conversations.
Also, I am still very mad about the demise of Miss Samantha Parkington, whom it did not occur to anyone to surprise ME with, because I was fifteen, and now I can NEVER have one, never. *fumes*