American Girl's Newest Doll is Homeless

Your views of a homeless person are steriotypical. My two children and I were homeless about 9 years ago. We stayed at a Salvation Army shelter for 3 weeks. During that period of time my children were always showered, brushed and groomed. Just because someone is homeless it doesn't mean they are unkept. Why don't you volunteer sometime and see what others go thru.

$95? For a doll?

Anyone wanting to educate their children on homelessness should take their son/daughter to a homeless shelter to help serve food instead.

This is a truly sad day when some niche company that caters to spoiled richie riches decides to market a "homeless" doll to people who don't know the first thing about what it's like to be homeless.

Kelly, you would be very, very surprised. Homeless children and youth--even adults--can be very clean. You would also be surprised at the government's definition of homelessness.

There are the mentally ill homeless that are the 'classic' look of homelessness.

And then there are the kids you see in Starbucks, wearing Abercrombie and Aeropostle (I personally knew one young woman who had a penchant for Gucci and other brands), playing on computers. Your little girl's BFF, the one she sits next to in class? She's homeless because she lives with her aunt instead of her mother, and she's not adopted.

There is such a stigma with this 'homelessness' business, and it's NICE to see American Girl Co. responding to it positively by shedding light on homeless, hardworking families. It's nice to see that children can be educated on the subject, so that hopefully they won't be as ignorant as you.

-"Amber 9-24-2009 @ 10:28PM

Kelly, do you happen to have any education at all? Maybe you're just trying to get a laugh, but it's a serious matter that is really not funny at all. Not all homeless people are dirty and dressed in rags. There are far more people that are homeless due to disasters and loss of jobs than mental illness and drug addiction. That doesn't mean that they walk around with dirty faces and squirrels hanging out of their mouths. Most of them have jobs and are trying to better themselves; and by looking at them, you wouldn't be able to tell that they are homeless. Take some time and edjucate yourself before you open your mouth. I read this a while back when it was featured. Perhaps this will open up your mind. http://girlsguidetohomelessness.com/"

Amber, were you trying to be funny? Because I surely had a laugh.

((Take some time and edjucate yourself before you open your mouth.))

It's funny all the fuss this has generated when the doll has been out since January. If anyone would bother to read the books or see the Crissa movie, then they would see that Gwen could be viewed as a story in strenght and hope as her mom Does get a job and a home. The people at the center are kind and helpful. Why is this all worse than buying a doll for your daughter that will last for a matter of weeks and gives her unreal expectations about boby shape and the idea that if you have big bazooms and pretty clothes life is perfect.

The fact that you have to spend $95 on a doll totally cancels out any quality learning a child might get from this doll. The fact that a parent will even spend $95 on ANY doll contradicts everything this company is supposedly trying to convey. This is a complete joke.

If you want to make your children aware of the plight of the less fortunate, why don't you take that $95 and donate it to a food bank, a shelter, something. Volunteer time, whatever. Quit making your children look for role models in toys and tv characters and shallow celebrity culture. Christ.

Couldn't have said it better. My niece (thanks to a relative) is getting hooked on this crap, and my brother and sister-in-law can't afford the clothes let alone the doll. When are the morons in this country going to wake the hell up? Not in my lifetime.

On the contrary, these dolls can and do get played with all the time. AG offers wholesome values for girls and sends out a good message unlike many of the toys, tv shows etc.. out there today.
Yes, they are pricey but you can teach your children a lesson by showing them how to treat this doll, be appreciative, and only purchasing one. What's the difference btw this and an x box or wii? They're all still toys. A parent can point out how fortunate their family is in contrast to this doll's family and many others in the world today and take the lesson as far as they choose to take it.

I agree with you 100% - this is the most hypocritical thing I've ever seen. $100 doll to teach kids with money about homelessness? How about American Girl GIVING homeless girls one of these dolls so they'll have something nice? Or donating the profits to benefit homeless women's shelters?

My daughter has a clue!! Before we adopted her 18 months ago she literally was homeless, she lived on the street and ate out of a garbage can. She doesn't talk about it often, but she remembers and her class at school has learned about how hard life was in her country through the stories she has told them. Call me terrible for giving her expensive presents, but she really wants an American Girl Doll for her 8th birthday, and I just might buy this one for her.

I agree completely. If this doll is being offered as a "teaching tool," American Girl should be modeling the behavior of benevolence. Otherwise, we've got only half of the equation. I'm fine with the company deducting its cost to produce, market, and distribute the doll....but any profit CLEARLY should be donated to either homeless shelters or organizations that help PREVENT homelessness, by either helping make emergency house payments, or working with people "on the edge," etc.

You said it best. And briefest. Thanks!

I agree! Short, sweet, and to the point!