Conservatives Threaten Boycott of 'American Girl' Dolls
Robert Paul Reyes
October 15, 2005
American Girl, a company that sells cute dolls and children's books, has become the unlikely target of conservatives threatening a boycott.
American Girl dolls are not anatomically impossible Barbies, nor are they hip and trendy Bratz dolls, they are the epitome of wholesomeness and reek of family values.
American Girl dolls are a symbol of conformity and conservatism, and you will find them in the homes of many God-fearing Republicans.
So why are some born-again bourgeois up in arms over American Girl dolls? Why open up a new front in the never-ending Culture Wars?
Button-down fanatics are upset at an American Girl campaign in which proceeds from sales of an "I Can" wristband help support educational programs of Girls Inc., a national nonprofit organization whose motto is "inspiring girls to be strong, smart and bold."
The "I Can" campaign supports three specific Girls Inc. programs - building girls' skills in math and science, developing leadership skills, and encouraging girls to participate in team sports.
But Girls Inc. also supports a girl's right to have access to birth control information and contraceptives and helps young women dealing with issues of sexual orientation.
Right-wingers are delighted when their little girls play with dolls, but God forbid they should aspire to be "strong, smart and bold." Next thing you know they will start listening to rap, idolize Hillary Clinton, and horror or horrors, become Democrats.
Red state parents don't want their daughters having access to contraceptives, apparently they'd rather let them get pregnant, and play with babies, instead of dolls.
And evidently girls of conservative homes don't have issues of sexual orientation, after all there are no homosexual Republicans, right?
Only a twisted individual would wage war against organizations with wholesome names like "American Girl" and "Girls Inc.", organizations whose primary aim is to entertain, educate and empower young girls.
American Girl dolls are not anatomically impossible Barbies, nor are they hip and trendy Bratz dolls, they are the epitome of wholesomeness and reek of family values.
American Girl dolls are a symbol of conformity and conservatism, and you will find them in the homes of many God-fearing Republicans.
So why are some born-again bourgeois up in arms over American Girl dolls? Why open up a new front in the never-ending Culture Wars?
Button-down fanatics are upset at an American Girl campaign in which proceeds from sales of an "I Can" wristband help support educational programs of Girls Inc., a national nonprofit organization whose motto is "inspiring girls to be strong, smart and bold."
The "I Can" campaign supports three specific Girls Inc. programs - building girls' skills in math and science, developing leadership skills, and encouraging girls to participate in team sports.
But Girls Inc. also supports a girl's right to have access to birth control information and contraceptives and helps young women dealing with issues of sexual orientation.
Right-wingers are delighted when their little girls play with dolls, but God forbid they should aspire to be "strong, smart and bold." Next thing you know they will start listening to rap, idolize Hillary Clinton, and horror or horrors, become Democrats.
Red state parents don't want their daughters having access to contraceptives, apparently they'd rather let them get pregnant, and play with babies, instead of dolls.
And evidently girls of conservative homes don't have issues of sexual orientation, after all there are no homosexual Republicans, right?
Only a twisted individual would wage war against organizations with wholesome names like "American Girl" and "Girls Inc.", organizations whose primary aim is to entertain, educate and empower young girls.
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