Comments on: Gwen: The Homeless Doll

By: Mackenzie

Mackenzie — Sun, 29 May 2011 21:58:13 +0000

First off, thank you Eresbel and Jenna, for your comments. Julie, I am immediately disturbed by the article by Peyser which you pulled from. The last lines of the article suggest that we should stick with Barbie rather than introduce young girls to new information, cultures, and promote skepticism and critical thinking. Yes, the group of girls who would be able to most closely relate to the Gwen doll will not be able to purchase her but I don’t think that means she has nothing positive to offer.
One would not expect me, a white girl living in Utah during the 21st century, to identify With Addy, the African-American runaway slave, yet I remember sobbing in bed one night and calling for my mom after reading that her master forced her to eat tobacco worms.
At age 6 reading Addy’s story was the first time I had ever heard of slavery. What I am trying to say is that just because the little girl, who’s parents buy her the Gwen doll and books, is not homeless doesn’t mean that she cannot take from it an awareness of homelessness well.
I loved American Girl dolls and especially the books when I was little. They were the first books I read and my friends and I would exercise my creativity by playing with the dolls. I would even say that they contributed significantly to my development into the feminist, book-loving, history-buff, and social activist I am today. Barbie never offered me half as much.

By: Luis Deluca

Luis Deluca — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 15:30:43 +0000

I like how you have organized your blog. Drupal is ok, but I prefer wordpress.

By: Lon Bintner

Lon Bintner — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 10:02:38 +0000

At first I thought duvets are for girls. My mom handed me one with zombies though just the way I like it yeah. I’m now in the closet, a fan…

By: blogging to make money

blogging to make money — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:54:20 +0000

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By: Chantal

Chantal — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 23:53:40 +0000

I appreciate what you have to say, and it makes perfect sense, just watch when you say things like “drug-addicted bums” or atleast make sure to really qualify those statements. As someone who is breaking into the social service field by working with homeless/under-housed and substance using individuals, I have met so many wonderful people who ultimately get labelled that way and are deemed as insignificant. While I understand you’re pointing out stereotypes, use of language and discourse in-of-itself perpetuates stereotypes. I guess what I’m trying to ultimately say is that their humanity should be a focus, not the fact that their addicts or bums.

By: prpltoz

prpltoz — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:46:53 +0000

Can someone please post a link to the evidence that this is actually happening? I went to the American Girl site and do not see Gwen listed. And also posting the link to the original article you found this info in would be great too.

I’m also wondering where all the American Girl bashing is coming from. To me it seems the same as when I was younger, just that now there is more dolls, and more of them b/c all that ones that existed when I was younger are still there too. I feel like there was always the desire to want the stuff in the catalogs so I don’t know why people are saying its more about “stuff” than what it used to be.

And if this homeless doll is true, I can see both sides. The stories can really help open girls eyes to things that they may not know about. Though I do think it is ironic that a homeless doll is so expensive.

By: Eresbel

Eresbel — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 03:53:27 +0000

I am a little wary of the way this article talks about stereotypes. The point of these dolls is to share a certain culture with those who aren’t a part of it already. Of course there are many different sub-cultures, but what would be the point of creating a Jewish doll to spread the understanding of Jewish culture if the doll’s character didn’t actually practice or wasn’t deeply involved in the culture? What would be the point of Felicity if she just didn’t give two ha’pennies about the revolution? Or if Samantha preferred to maintain class hierarchy instead of heralding the rise of the middle class?

“Clearly a homeless doll is a stereotype in and of itself.” Why? That is not immediately clear to me. My impression of that quote is that any identity is a stereotype in and of itself.

By: Jenna

Jenna — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:25:39 +0000

This doll looks like she’s from a CT country club?

You know, for girls who don’t want to perpetuate stereotypes, that’s what you’re doing. What was the company supposed to do? Maybe you should email them and recommend that this doll have unkempt hair and some dirt all over her face!

By: MLS

MLS — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:31:59 +0000

There was recently an article about this on Jezebel (jezebel.com, check it out!).
In my family, American girl dolls were a big thing. My sister and I had two apiece. However, there was a requirement. We had to read all the books for that particular doll and then we would get in on the next major holiday.
Obviously, this didn’t span beyond two dolls because they’re just so darn expensive, but our parents were simultaneously teaching us about work for reward, the importance of reading, and whatever history was in the books. If a girl really decides she wants one of these dolls, the parents should make sure she knows something about her by reading the books or doing a report. She’s learning about something, not just playing costly dress-up.

By: Rose

Rose — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 05:19:37 +0000

I think it’s good in that it’s likely one of the only chances for upper-middle-class and rich girls to understand the real problems of homelessness and poverty in our country. As I said when Jezebel covered this, I went to a high school (I’m in college now) where the majority of students were fairly well-off, and many of them were raised with the idea that if you’re poor, it’s your own fault for not trying hard enough. I can’t tell you how often I ran up against this born-on-third-base-but-thinks-s/he-hit-a-triple mentality, especially during the election season when it seemed like everybody was a “libertarian” and supported Ron Paul. So if this doll means that more rich kids are aware of their economic privilege, understand that poverty/homelessness is a more complicated problem than their parents might make it out to be, and feel obligated to do something to help the less fortunate, then I consider it progress. It doesn’t mean the ideas behind the doll are perfect, but it’s a step in the right direction.