How has the new homeless American Girl doll sparked controversy?”
She’s the world’s first “homeless” doll. The forlorn figurine is the newest member of the posh American Girl doll collection. ——————– She might never live in Barbie’s dream-house, but Gwen Thompson is the talk of toy town. She’s the world’s first “homeless” doll. The forlorn figurine is the newest member of the posh American Girl doll collection. Owned by Mattel, American Girl has been selling expensive and popular dolls for over two decades. This year, they introduced Thompson, a grade school girl who lives with her mother in the family car A representative for American Girl says the doll is meant to teach tolerance and is part or an outreach program teaching young girls how to spot bullying and stand up and speak out against it. In a storybook that details the doll’s life, Gwen’s mother revealed, “I woke up one morning to learn that my husband had left us, and my daughter and I were evicted — truly homeless. I always thought homelessness happened to other people. Never
The Gwen doll, 18 inches of made-in-China cuteness, is the reluctant star of the American Girl doll pantheon this week. Although she debuted nine months ago as sidekick to “Girl of the Year” Chrissa, her story was never intended to rise beyond subplot level. American Girl, homeless Gwen: http://img.coxnewsweb.com/C/07/50/50/image_8650507.jpg Oh, but her subplot is far too juicy to escape the notice of social commentators – even months later. You see, Gwen Thompson, with her white eyelet lace dress and pink headband, her brown eyes and blonde bangs, her soft cloth body and vinyl limbs, is homeless. The Twitter version: Dad left the family. Mom fell behind on the house payments. Mom and Gwen wound up sleeping in the car. “What message is being sent with Gwen?” wrote New York Post columnist Andrea Peyser in a Thursday rail against Mattel that was echoed in cable TV commentary. “For starters, men are bad. F
From the Baltimore Sun: “As with all American Girl dolls, Gwen offers what Mattel calls “valuable lessons about life.” As well as marketing. Gwen is the world’s first homeless doll, although her role is focused on being a friend to Chrissa, who’s bullied at school. But her story emerges: Gwen’s dad ditched them, her mom lost her job and their home, and they sleep in their car. The pop culture fan is well-splattered. Columnists rip Mattel for mocking homelessness by charging $95 for a doll who uses an armrest for a pillow. Homeless advocates murmur that fortunate families that can afford such playthings could get a clue.
