American Girl,
manufacturer of a highly popular line of dolls and
children's books, has become the target of conservative
activists threatening a boycott unless the toy maker
cuts off contributions to a youth organization that
supports abortion rights and acceptance of lesbians.
The protest is directed at an ongoing American
Girl campaign in which proceeds from sales of a
special "I Can" wristband help to support
educational and empowerment programs of Girls Inc., a
national nonprofit organization that describes its mission
as "inspiring girls to be strong, smart, and bold."
American Girl, whose often patriotic products
have long had a loyal following among conservatives,
issued a statement Friday defending its support of
Girls Inc. and assailing the protest campaign. "We are
profoundly disappointed that certain groups have chosen to
misconstrue American Girl's purely altruistic efforts
and turn them into a broader political statement on
issues that we, as a corporation, have no position,"
the statement said.
The Mississippi-based American Family
Association, in a campaign launched Wednesday, is
urging its members to demand that American Girl halt
support for Girls Inc., which it called "a pro-abortion,
pro-lesbian advocacy group." "Let American Girl know
they are making a terrible mistake," AFA chairman Don
Wildmon said in a statement. The AFA says it has more
than 2.2 million members.
The Pro-Life Action League, a Chicago-based
antiabortion group, also is asking supporters to
contact American Girl to express dismay. The league's
executive director, Ann Scheidler, said her organization
might call for a boycott of American Girl's products
and organize picketing at its stores in Chicago and
New York if the company doesn't sever ties with Girls Inc.
"Parents need to know that this effort to
promote self-esteem among girls is not as innocent as
it seems," Scheidler said. "While Girls Inc. has some
good programs, they also support abortion, oppose
abstinence-only education for girls, and condone lesbianism."
American Girl, a subsidiary of Mattel, said the
"I Can" initiative supports three specific Girls Inc.
programs: building girls' skills in science and math,
developing leadership skills, and encouraging athletic
skills and team spirit. "All of these aims are appropriate
to our 7- to 12-year-old American Girl fans," the company
said. "The American Girl brand exemplifies the values
of wholesomeness and responsibility that we would
expect any organization to commend."
Girls Inc., which traces its roots to a center
founded in Waterbury, Conn., in 1864, serves about
800,000 girls a year, many of them black or Hispanic
and most from low-income families. The "advocacy" page
on its Web site lists some of the positions that roused
conservative ire--for example, a clear
endorsement the 1973 Roe v. Wade court decision
establishing of a woman's right to abortion. Girls
Inc. also supports a girl's right to have access to
contraception and pledges support for girls dealing
with issues of sexual orientation.
Joyce Roche, president of Girls Inc., said the
New York Cty-based organization had never
before been targeted by a protest campaign. "We were
taken aback," she said in a telephone interview Friday.
"Our programs are well-respected. We're all about helping
girls see possibilities and dream big dreams."
She said Girls Inc. takes positions on public
policy issues if it believes women's rights and
opportunities are at stake. "Our philosophy is that
women should have the right to make decisions about
themselves," Roche said.
One of the protest coordinators, American Family
Association special projects director Randy Sharp,
said the campaign was noteworthy because American
Girl's products have long been favored by conservatives. Its
dolls (full-size models sell for more than $80) include a
series from different eras of American
history--such as Felicity, from the
Revolutionary War, or Addy, who escapes from slavery during
the Civil War. "American Girl has won the trust of
millions of conservative families," Sharp said. "It's
very popular among the home school movement because of
the values the company followed.
"Now we find they're teaming up with Girls Inc.,
which supports the very things we oppose. It's very troubling."
Sharp said the AFA was not yet ready to call for
a boycott, but he predicted that many conservative
families--including his own--would be
reluctant to keep buying American Girl products. "I think,
no question, this will have a financial impact on
American Girl," he said. (AP)
