End Homelessness

Interesting... I wonder why they chose to make her blonde-haired and blue-eyed. So the kids whose parents can afford the dolls can relate?

It doesn't seem to accurately represent the fact that people who experience homelessness in general, including children, are disproportionately people of color.

Also, would it be more realistic if Daddy used to beat Mommy up, and then Mommy left?

Or would it be more realistic if Mommy and Daddy were never married, but Mommy got pregnant in high school. Not having a diploma (she dropped out when she had the baby), she's not employable. Her family didn't have many resources to help her after her 60 months were up, so she left.

Why didn't Middle-class Mommy call up her parents and ask for a loan? Why didn't Middle-class Mommy go on welfare? Why didn't Middle-class Daddy pay child support? Why didn't Middle-class Daddy's parents borrow Mommy some money so their grand-kid isn't sleeping in a car?

These questions, I feel, point out the fact that NO - not just ANYONE is one or two paychecks away from homelessness. It's people who come from poor backgrounds and have weak social networks or people who have already burned all of their resource bridges - people who have had addictions, people who have been incarcerated, people who have aged out of institutions, etc.

More realistic is: "one or two paychecks, a divorce, and a job loss" away from homelessness.

I see where you're trying to go with this posting, Shannon. But I think you should have stopped with your initial reaction. As Marissa notes, what we've got here is a simulacrum of a very Anglo child. And look at how nicely she's dressed and groomed and how well-fed and happy she looks. I'm hardly recommending a doll who looks the way a child who's living in a car would look. Just saying that the whole idea of the product borders on the obscene, as Peysner says.

I think what bothers me about this doll is the mere fact that our society has gotten to the point that we need to recognize the sheer fact that this does happen to so many children and that they now represent a high enough number to merit a doll!    Oh my lord!  I am saddened, but do hope that they do not make one for Crack Whore Betty!  Sadly, there might be more kids from welfare families who are on drugs that deserve a little recognition.  Obviously, the poor or homeless children will NEVER BE ABLE TO AFFORD SUCH A DOLL.  But thier affluent counter part families can buy one for thier children to befriend?  

And I totally agree, the doll does NOT even come close to representing the homeless child with the perfectly white outfit, combed hair, clean face...  If anything, they should give a large percentage of the proceeds toward helping children in that type of situation. 

Themz my thoughts!

You sure hit the nail right on head:

"The only thing obscene about this American Girl controversy is that it takes a plastic doll and her fictional biography to have everyone up in arms. Yet, the real stories of homeless children crowding shelters and schools are accepted without an ounce of outrage."

Currently, there are a couple of us men setting up camp at night in a kind of sentry positioning for a homeless woman ... who is several months pregnant and alone. It's unclear what will happen at delivery time, or afterward. For her or the child. What a doll!

"Why didn't Middle-class Mommy call up her parents and ask for a loan? Why didn't Middle-class Mommy go on welfare? Why didn't Middle-class Daddy pay child support? Why didn't Middle-class Daddy's parents borrow Mommy some money so their grand-kid isn't sleeping in a car?"

"look at how nicely she's dressed and groomed and how well-fed and happy she looks."

Well, this anglo middle-class mommy got a loan to cover one week at an extended stay hotel from her dad who was taking care of his sick mother (since her health couldn't handle 3 active kids) and he didn't get the military retirement checks he earned for the previous 5 years.  She couldn't stay at her mom's single room apartment in a shared house with 3 kids in violation of a lease that banned overnight guests.  This middle-class mommy applied for welfare, but it took more than 3 weeks to get her application through so she could spend 35-hours per week in WorkFirst approved activities to receive $286 per month - even though all I really wanted was childcare.  This middle-class mommy couldn't get child support from a middle-class father/husband who disappeared after having a bipolar and possibly schizophrenic mental breakdown that led to him putting her on a train with 3 preschool kids and $15 under false pretences to begin with. 

But even 3 years of college education, office skills, lack of addictions, and a strong work ethic are pointless when years of supporting your husband's career and taking care of children at home mean you can't find a job that would even pay the costs of $11 per hour childcare.

All three of my kids were very clean, well-dressed, and well-fed - in a large part because I skipped meals.  All of the other mothers at the IHN homeless program I stayed in for 2 months were employed, addiction free, and took amazing care of their children.

When I finally got my childcare vouchers, found a job at a law firm, and got an apartment to share with my mom at the end of her lease, I bought my daughter an American Girls doll for Christmas.  I, for one, appreciate the attention on family homelessness.

My only problem with that doll...Besides the price tag...Is that theres only one story and it aint all that realistic.

Daddy leaving...Mommy losing her job ?

Ok...That could happen but what about the reverse ?

Or...What about both parents losing their jobs ?

Also...Why isnt the doll being packaged with ways to effectivly help the homeless as well as ways to put a stop to homelessness ?

To me, its just another attempt by a corporation to profit at the expense of the trodden down.

Pathetic.

Wonderful idea, making Gwen mirror her audience. A $100 doll's story could be rewritten countless ways and what are the remarkable basic's?  Adult's break up, caregiver loses job in a World that demands 2 incomes to support the family. And ?

The idignation is hollow. An attempt at looking concerned. The comments mirror who our inner star is . How we treat ourselves is mirrored in how we treat others less fortunate.

We dont like what we see? Then making changes would be helpful. The place to make that change is within ourself first. The number of self serving people using others to shine a light on themself is nothing new. They go out of their way to create problems that they really don't care about. Just getting attention at the expense of others.

I am glad to see an attempt at teaching kids about Homelessness. Whatever allows for a parent to have a real conversation with their child about real life is worth a Bio that portrays a possible scenario even if distasteful to some.

 The Doll's story is a good segway to mention HR 582?  

I've read the interesting comments here, and have to say that I completely agree with B Conley, as well as thank her for sharing her story!

I really appreciate the attempt, innaccurate and distasteful though it may be to some, to teach children about a minority that is too often ignored.Thjis is like an Amertican Girl doll who happens to have a noticable disability.  Or who happens to be black (there is one--her name's Abby).  Or who happens to be homosexual.  And look how she's mistreated for the simple reason of being who she is.  That's not fair or right, is it?

This brings the unfortunate reality of injustice to the forefront, and I appluad the attention American Girl gives to minorities.  They could have just as eassily gone the Barbie route, and made all the dolls blonde and physically impossible.

When I much younger and in AG's target audience (8,9 years old), I was an avid reader of the American Girl books and eventually got an AG doll as a gift.  At that time there 4 different girls, all with fictional lives during different points in actual history, and the books highlighted the struggles they each faced. As an adult looking back, I continue to be appreciative of the effort American Girl makes toward representing the diversity of America.

When the time comes, I expect to purchase an American Doll for my daughter, and use the books to teach her about diversity, tolerance, and injustice in an age-apppropriate way. After all, an American Girl who's homeless is just as American as all the rest, and her experiences matter just as much.

I appreciate this article and the many thoughtful comments. It's a complicated issue to be sure. I have one thought I don't think has been addressed yet which is the point of the transaction of giving a girl this or any doll.

The little girl who is given this doll will be giving the doll a home in a very visceral way. Little girls identify both with the doll and with the "mommy" role. The lesson is in giving the doll the home and care she deserves. One pamphlet that reinforces gender stereotypes isn't going to make or break that impressionable mind but the ongoing role play could be quite powerful. 

I believe that dolls are a way for children to role play responsibility. I think there could be a lot of opportunity for parents to deliver the good messages about responsibility and caring for people--even with such a flawed instrument as this doll. 

"After Gwen's Father Walked Out on the Family..."?!?! Oh, that's 'tasteful and well researched', all right...why not a homeless doll whose mother divorced the father? That'd be much more well researched.

When I first heard this story I was appalled, but reading comments here and thinking about it more has softened my anger a bit. 

What if AG had decided to make this girl black or hispanic?  Imagine the press they would have received at that?  Maybe just offering a doll who is homeless and making her white and middle class looking will help children to understand that homelessness can affect anyone.  And maybe, just maybe, those kids will also understand that a homeless status doesn't proclude a doll (or a person?) from being loved and adored.

AG probably could have been more nimble with this, but I'm definitely appalled.

My granddaughter and I love the American Girls! Gwen is an important character in this year's Girl of the Year stories. She becomes a best friend of Chrissa who is the Champion against bullying.  I would hope that American Girl would give all proceeds of the sale of this character doll to a homeless project in each state that it is sold in....that would be a great example!

I think it could be a good educational tool for kids, especially ones who grow up in a higher-income family. It could spark important discussions about the effects of homelessness on children. I never had an American Girl doll when I was young, but some of my friends did and I adored them and the stories that came with them. I would have learned from this when I was a girl, but I also grew up with a selfless mother who took me to feed and donate to the homeless. I think the problem is that the price tag makes it unlikely that the doll will help children who experience homelessness feel acknowledged. Perhaps the book could make it's way to a school bookshelf? I agree with Kathy in that I hope the procedes are used responsibly.

To "Marissa Pherson" i think your way of looking at this situation is really sad. You said, "It doesn't seem to accurately represent the fact that people who experience homelessness in general, including children, are disproportionately people of color." So your basically saying that if this were a black doll then it would be accurate?? Thats low and you need to step out of your ignorance. I have personally seen MANY white folks out on the street drunk, or on drugs, and to say that people of color are usually the homeless is just ignorant and close minded.  Pick up a new perspective and step out of your racist, byass ways. Dueces.

-A very educated young lady (with the help of sebastian =])

I'm not the only one who mentioned it. Don't attack my comment as racist.

I'm keeping this response short because I took too long before, so I lost the comment.

Compare and contrast child population statistics with child poverty statistics, broken down by race:

http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/acrossstates/Rankings.aspx?ind=44

http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/acrossstates/Rankings.aspx?ind=103

Learn about the wealth gap:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5430249
http://www.pbs.org/race/000_About/002_04-background-03.htm

Stereotypes are everywhere, especially when talking about homelessness and poverty. I get that.

The fact that our poverty is overwhelmingly non-white is evidence of a much greater problem that we are not addressing.  Please see the last 2 links I reference.

Thanks.

Not intrested. but thanks any way....I hope every one is not as close minded

The facts are there. Maybe Mariana and Marissa talking about and comparing different locations and demographics, which then off course skew the results.

Yes, white people are homeless and live on the streets and many may have addictions.  But if you visit any inner city homeless shelter or soup kitchen (or any other inner city social service), numbers alone will show you the disproportionate numbers of minorities who are homeless or receiving social services.

I think Marissa was just pointing out a simple factor that perhaps AG was covering their butts by portraying a middle class white girl. We all know poverty does not discriminate on all the "isms" (racism, sexism etc). However, if AG portrayed the homeless girl as looking like the norm perhaps it will allow other white middle class families (more than likely the consumer purchasing these dolls to beging with) that poverty happens to us all. Obviously AG was trying to dodge some bullets by not being seen as racist - but they could not avoid all the punches because Gwen does not truly articulate the real numbers in America.

But lets not discourage the hope and education Gwen will provide to young children and families. AG was initiating a step in the right direction, but perhaps was not executed in the best way.