Move over Tinky Winky and SpongeBob SquarePants! The Religious Right has a new target for its wrath: a line of dolls produced by the American Girl Company.
The American Girl firm, now owned by Mattel, produces a series of dolls representing various U.S. historical periods. The dolls come with books offering a fictionalized account of a girl’s life for the time period the doll represents. The stories invariably promote a “can do” spirit that urges girls to be self reliant, creative and bold.
To promote those ideals, American Girl supports organizations that advocate educational programs for girls. One of the groups supported is Girls Inc., formerly the Girls Clubs of America. The 141-year-old organization exists primarily to boost girls’ self esteem, and American Girl has been selling a wristband to underwrite a project focusing on achievement in math and science.
In November, the American Family Association (AFA) issued a bulletin attacking American Girl for its ties to Girls Inc. The AFA, a Mississippi-based Religious Right outfit, asserted that Girls Inc. supports legal abortion and equal rights for gay people. The group called on supporters to boycott the dolls.
Girls Inc.’s website says the organization supports the core finding of Roe v. Wade. It also calls for “positive, supportive environments” for girls “dealing with issues of sexual orientation.” However, Girls Inc. does not lobby on these issues.
To the AFA, this makes Girls Inc. a “pro-abortion, pro-lesbian advocacy group.”
“Let American Girl know they are making a terrible mistake,” AFA Chairman Donald Wildmon said in a statement issued to supporters. The Pro-Life Action League, a Chicago-based anti-abortion group that opposes all abortions for any reason, also joined the boycott.
So far, American Girl has refused to cave in and says it will support Girls Inc. with a $50,000 donation.
Several newspaper columnists have criticized the AFA.
Writing in the Kansas City Star, Mary Sanchez observed, “The truth is the self-esteem building programs of Girls Inc. have likely kept many girls from becoming pregnant before they were in stable marriages and able to emotionally and financially support a child. With so many sexist and damaging images for young girls in the public realm, why focus on one thread in an organization that is doing so much good?”
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