Breaking the Doll's Back? Or Backing Down?
cyncooper printable version print page     Bookmark and Share
Fri Dec 16, 2005 at 06:50:05 PM EST

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Is it "Mission Accomplished" for the right-wing on American Girl Dolls?  The Pro-Life Action League and Concerned Women for America are declaring that the corporation blinked and gave into its dollcott demands, described in this story. Are the two religious right entities declaring victory where there is none, like the fake announcement that the war in Iraq was over? Or is American Girl Dolls backing down to the religious right and turning its back on American girls?
Pro-Life Action League, an extremist pro-life group, says that the corporation has backed down in the face of its complaints.  The complaints seemed extenuated, but follow a pattern for the religious right.  They centered on the notion the American Girl Dolls directed donations to Girls, Inc.,which, in turn, supports all girls, regardless of sexual orientation, approves of complete reproductive health education, and supports reproductive rights.  

American Girl Dolls and Girls Inc. swore they wouldn't back down.

But the right-wing Biblically devout Concerned Women for America runs this blurb Victory in the Battle to Save American Girl Dolls!  

The Pro-Life Action League has announced victory in their boycott of American Girl Dolls. The company is backing away from its "I Can" campaign that supported the pro-abortion/pro-homosexual Girls, Inc. Instead, the company will launch a "Save Girlhood" campaign, to promote the preservation of girl's innocence.

Pro-Life Action League declares on its website , that American Girl is ending its sales of "I Can" bracelets, which benefited Girls Inc.

at "the earliest possible day they could end the program without losing face.  No mention of an ending date for the program was ever made until the pro-life protest picked up steam."

Pro-Life Action League reports:

American Girl began de-emphasizing the "I Can" project within days of the League's first press release decrying the link with Girls Inc. Bath and Body Works, the only other outlet for purchasing the "I Can" bracelet, quit the project in late November.

 The League has distributed thousands of "You have betrayed our trust" brochures.

Ann Scheidler, spokesperson for the Pro-Life Action League said: "We are happy that American Girl is trying to win back our confidence. But we continue to be watchful."

Did American Girls, owned by Mattel, cave in? Or did religious right girls let it be known that American Girl Dolls were holiday favorites, calling for a declaration of success and quick retreat?  

If American Girl let itself be swayed by a few press releases from the Pro-Life Action League, it's holding pretty low standards. Joseph Scheidler, founder of Pro-Life Action League, is one of the parties in a case currently being considered by the U.S.Supreme Court, Scheidler v. NOW.  Pro-Life Action League, known for its aggressive blocking and harassment at abortion clinics, is trying to avoid paying a civil fine under racketeering laws for its intimidation.

And it's also sad that, despite the obvious homophobia, the girl doll boycott never got the same attention in the gay community as Ford Motor Company's concession to AFA to drop ads in gay publications, a decision that Ford reversed when the gay community responded vigorously. You have to hope that it's a case of overload, and not a gender divide.



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Breaking the Doll's Back? Or Backing Down? | 8 comments (8 topical, 0 hidden)
Always two sides (none / 0)
There are always two sides to a story. I think that the best thing to do would be to contact the American Girls people and ask them about this, and while we're at it, slip them some information about their boycotters and their proclivity for terrorism.

Might make them open their eyes like Ford, Kraft, and Microsoft did.

Why should the religious harassers get all the attention? They act like some kind of (un)holy mob, harassing and terrorizing people. We need to investigate, inform and educate. Those things might make these supremacist bullies think twice before targeting a company for harassment and boycott.

by Lorie Johnson on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 09:04:49 AM EST

but not all sides talk (none / 0)
Good suggestion, and I've asked American Girl Dolls to comment. They ducked comments when contacted by an ABC business reporter.  Most companies do.

Here's where the company can be contacted:

Media Inquiries
American Girl
8400 Fairway Place
Middleton, WI 53562
1-608-836-4848

To see American Girl Dolls website

To Email Media Inquiries to American Girl Dolls

To Email Public Comments to American Girl Dolls

by cyncooper on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:02:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]


So here's an action (none / 0)
...if we all use the links provided, and ask others to do the same, to ask Girls Inc. if the charges are true, that they have truly backed down because of pressures applied by this group. If we all ask, and keep asking until there is an answer, we'll be sending a loud message.

by Irrevelations on Sun Dec 18, 2005 at 09:23:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Great Idea (none / 0)
Excellent suggestion. I put in a request for a response to Girls Inc.

Here's info on Girls, Inc.:

Girls Incorporated
120 Wall Street
New York, NY 10005-3902
1-800-374-4475
Girls Inc. President: Joyce Roché

Girls Inc. Website

Girls Inc. Public Contact Form

Girls Inc. Press Inquires: Taiia Smart Young, 212-509-2000,
Email: tsyoung@girls-inc.org

Girls Inc. DC Office on public police work: 202-463-1881

by cyncooper on Mon Dec 19, 2005 at 12:45:12 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Next step (none / 0)
is to send emails to likeminded folks and ask them as well to contact Girls Inc. Then, perhaps, begins tracking inquiries against response, or lack thereof. Then write about that and send that around as well so more people can inquire about the responses to the inquiries. That, and perhaps, if the allegtions are true, begin asking for the bracelets to be put back onthe market to prove the point that there was nothing wrong with funding activities this way in the first place. Enough requests for the bracelets and economics will win out.

by Irrevelations on Mon Dec 19, 2005 at 09:51:11 AM EST
[ Parent ]
strategies (none / 0)
Excellent strategies ... please feel free to forward to one and all.

by cyncooper on Tue Dec 20, 2005 at 09:29:08 AM EST
[ Parent ]

for the record ... (none / 0)
Neither American Girl nor Girls Inc. responded to my inquiries.

by cyncooper on Fri Dec 30, 2005 at 05:43:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]





American Girl Boycott (none / 0)
The Scripturs clearly tell believers to never return evil for evil. If the right thinks that what American Girl does is evil then the religious right is in violation of the word of God to use the boycott.

by liberalsonofGod on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 02:57:58 PM EST

Breaking the Doll's Back? Or Backing Down? | 8 comments (8 topical, 0 hidden)

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