Posted on 12/14/2005 9:22:54 AM PST by Diago
American Girl Tries to Restore Image, Pro-Life Group Declares Victory
To: National Desk
Contact: Ann Scheidler of the Pro-Life Action League, 773-777-2900, 312-965-1030 cell, ann@prolifeaction.org
CHICAGO, Dec. 14 /Christian Wire Service/ -- "American Girl is trying to restore its wholesome image with pro-life families," said Ann Scheidler, executive director of the Chicago-based Pro-Life Action League. "Their efforts at damage control show how effective our protest and boycott have been."
"In contrast to American Girl's affiliation with pro-abortion Girls Inc, they have just launched a major ad campaign, designed to protect girls from growing up too fast," said Scheidler. "The sudden about-face is clearly a response to our boycott of American Girl during the Christmas shopping season."
The "Save Girlhood" ad campaign, the first ad campaign in the company's history, seeks to preserve girls' innocence and suggests wholesome, fun activities for girls and their parents. The campaign includes a new website, www.savegirlhood.com.
"The 'I Can' bracelet project which funded Girls Inc. abruptly comes to an end December 26," said Scheidler. "This new 'Save Girlhood' project proves that consumers can demand integrity from a company by refusing to buy its products when it betrays its consumers' trust."
"The League's boycott and the pickets have been highly successful. We are happy that American Girl is trying to win back our confidence. But we continue to be watchful," said Scheidler.
The Pro-Life Action League called for a boycott of American Girl on November 1, to continue through the Christmas shopping season. The League held pickets at American Girl Place in Chicago on November 25 and December 3, and at American Girl Place on Fifth Avenue in New York on December 10.
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.
The Pro-Life Action League is the nation's largest activist pro-life organization. For further information please see www.prolifeaction.org.
This is great news and I'm happy I did my part in not purchasing from American Girl this year.
Hit 'em where it hurts, in the pocketbook. I don't think it would take a marketing genius to figure out that radical feminists and their ilk are NOT buying "American Girl" dolls for their daughters.
Well done!
That's too bad. The upcoming "L'Shaniqua: American Girl" doll was really quite an engineeing accomplishment. The doll had an inflatable stomach that would deflate once the child pressed the "ABORT IT!!" button on the doll's back.
Goodness, that was uncalled for.
*boggles*
Yes, I guess Americal Girl realized that they should listen to the pro-life groups since the "other side" isn't producing as many American Girls these days themselves... if you know what I mean.
Shhh...Planned Parenthood is lurking...
I'm delighted at the corporate response, although perhaps it would be a bit more becoming with a little less chest thumping.
Gotta rally the troops and show that YOU can make a difference! Also, a little chest thumping is in order when evil is dealt a blow.
Oops, my bad! I forget to close the sarcasm tag.
(I don't think it would take a marketing genius to figure out that radical feminists and their ilk are NOT buying "American Girl" dolls for their daughters.)
You're right. Their daughters are likely to have been aborted.
My wife has been a collector of American Girl dolls and has purchased dolls for our granddaughters. However she stopped doing business with the company when the story first surfaced.
Me too.
I always appreciate it when liberals can pull their heads outta their keesters long enough to make a rational business decision.
Means there is hope for them.
Thanks!
I agree. Sometimes I think we do ourselves harm that way. A public statement that we are delighted with the recent decisions of American Girl would have sufficed--and gotten the point across. I think this discourages corporations from responding adequately in the future.
The wife and I are waiting for AG to
purge its internet link to recommended
booklets that support lesbianism as
normal activity in a girl's life.
We always bougtht AG dolls/accoutrements
for the little ladies in our family.
None ordered for the past two years now.
I braved the bitter cold last weekend to protest at their Manhattan store..
Protests can be effective...
Beat ya.
This one may also be of interest.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1535765/posts
Coming soon from American Girl:
The Tookie Crips Doll
He's rude! He's loud! And he knows how to beat his ho! For an extra five bucks, you can get the matching 9 mm! Then have him blow away all your innocent Barbie's!
So buy the Tookie Crips Doll today! He's a great Kwanza stocking stuffer! And remember kids, only you can do drugs!
Actually when the news of a boycott against American Girl came out a lot of women on the left that are participants in a message board that I frequent came out strongly against it and said they were defying it by definitely buying dolls or accessories from them this year and even reported that they had made their orders.
I am very glad to hear of this change in policy. I have loved these dolls and all their stuff for many years even though I have always found them too expensive to buy--especially ordering from Canada. I have a few "imitation" dolls that I have sewn outfits for for my grandchildren. They don't have the furnishings and doodads but they are just as cute.
My granddaughter is at the age where she could start appreciating these dolls, but I didn't purchase because of what I saw on their website. Then all the publicity hit. I'm with you here, I'll wait until they purge their internet link, since it was my first and last contact with them.
http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/2551
In this article, AG iterates that it had "partnered"
with Girls Inc. Did anyone on their staff bother
to research Girls Inc thoroughly? I doubt it.
Check out this link:
http://www.girlsinc.com/ic/content/lesbianbisexualgirls.pdf
Get the Facts. Search our list of girls’ issues and topics to find the information you need!
Most resources are available as PDF documents. To view PDF documents, you will need to install Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Girls and Lesbian, Bisexual, and Questioning Identities (Resources for Adults)
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Take Action! Support Comprehensive Sex Education. Learn more...
Now admittedly, I have NOT read these books.
But I'm not about to spend $20 PLUS for them,
either. Our oldest GreatKid is in 8th grade.
She knows what the score is re Gay and Straight
kids; and while she is polite to the ones
she meets in school, she is not about to take
them on as friends. She also informed us that
most of the kids purporting to BE gay, are
actually putting on the act just to impress
others. I would suggest to SHOCK others is more
on the mark...like those sporting their tongue
buttons!
Morality and ethics cannot be bought. Obviously, American Girl makers do.
"...they can (and usually do) reverse direction when no one is looking."
Yes, that is true, which is why I think the organization is right to say they'll be keeping close tabs on them.
We really let down our guard in this country several decades ago, not just here, of course. We must really remain vigilent.
"I have always found them too expensive to buy--especially ordering from Canada."
They are gosh darn expensive. My daughter has one, a Christmas present. To tell you the truth, she was never that gaga about it, which I was guess was lucky in the end. She enjoyed her baby dolls, loved her Barbies and tore all their heads off eventually, but by the time we bought her Kirsten I guess she was too old for dolls. At least Kirsten still has her head, hair, and all limbs intact ; )
Maybe you should start a line of "Canadian Girl" dolls, those might be a big hit, and you could really make some cute ones.
There is a Canadian equivalent--it is called the Maplelea Girls. They are actually better than AG because, while AG used a stock mould available from Gotz, the German doll company, Maplelea Girls were sculpted from scratch based on a real Canadian girl. Hence the body proportions are more appropriate for a 9-10 girl (not as baby-ish as AG) and the hands can actually hold objects. Maplelea Girls and American Girls can still share clothes, but the Maplelea Girls are nicer looking. Maplelea Girls each come with a journal telling about the Girl and the part of Canada she lives in. You can see them at www.maplelea.com. It's a great product! As a mother, a doll collector and a Canadian, I love them.
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