American Girl

A couple of weeks back, a friend of mine (That is you, Richard) told me about an organization, The American Family Association that is threatening a boycott of American Girl because of their association with Girls, Inc.

Girls, Inc. according to AFA is a pro-lesbian and pro-abortion group that is bend on the destruction of the family as we know it. When I went to their website I found that Girls, Inc. was founded in the 1860s to help rural girls who were flocking to New England's new industrial centers but were unable to find places to live or activities to occupy their free time. Currently their mission is to develop:

Research-based informal education programs that encourage girls to take risks and master physical, intellectual and emotional challenges. Major programs address math and science education, pregnancy and drug abuse prevention, media literacy, economic literacy, adolescent health, violence prevention, and sports participation.

They support the following Girls Bill of Rights:

• Girls have the right to be themselves and to resist gender stereotypes.
• Girls have the right to express themselves with originality and enthusiasm.
• Girls have the right to take risks, to strive freely, and to take pride in success.
• Girls have the right to accept and appreciate their bodies.
• Girls have the right to have confidence in themselves and to be safe in the world.
• Girls have the right to prepare for interesting work and economic independence.
  

They are advocates for girls sports programs, economic empowerment and anti violence problems. Additionally they provide resources for both girls and their parents on subjects ranging from puberty, sexuality, literacy, dating, math and science and economic literacy, juvenile justice, substance and tobacco abuse and political awareness.

Frankly, I was impressed by the information that they made available, particularly since they advocate that parents share with their daughter's their own views, values and expectations. The fact that they support a woman's right to choose and and provide information to both parents and girls struggling with sexuality issues strikes me as fitting with their underlying goal helping our girls become strong women.

American Girl has made a financial gift to Girls, Inc. and is selling the "I Can" band that will further support Girls, Inc.

After exploring this, I sent the following letter to the folks at American Girl:

Dear Ms. Brothers,

I felt compelled to write in support of American Girls association with Girls, Inc. After reading an article about the American Family Association's potential boycott of your company, I checked the websites for both organizations.

I found Girls, Inc.'s long history of advocacy for girls globally to be important in our world that is all too often unsafe for our daughters. They provide information to both parents and girls and emphasized education, responsibility and communication
between generations. By doing this, they are respecting the cultures of girls of many religions and societies while still providing necessary information.

From what I say of the American Family Association website, they they base
their beliefs on an interpretation of the Bible based exclusively on their particular flavor of Christianity. As all Americans are not Christians nor conservative, I find their cause to be about forcing all Americans to live by their beliefs. An exceptionally anti-American goal.

American Girl has been important because it has been about encouraging girls to pursue education and overcome obstacles over time and geography. That is much more in line with the goals of Girls, Inc. and I applaud that.

I hope that American Girl and its parent company, Mattel will continue to support Girls, Inc. As an American Girl customer of many years (in fact, I was at the Chicago store on Monday purchasing my younger daughter the Elizabeth doll and books for my older girl) I was pleased to find out about your association with Girls, Inc. and will be further exploring their website with my American girls.

Please do not succumb to the threat of a boycott from a group of narrow minded zealots who are more interested in pursuing their limited view of Christianity than
helping our girls grow into the strong and capable women we know that they
can be.

Thank you,

Gretchen Miller Neuman

I was pleased today to have received the following letter back from American Girl:

Dear Ms. Neuman,

Thank you for your e-mail expressing support of American Girl's affiliation with Girls Inc. We have received many e-mails regarding this issue, and appreciate your positive feedback, as well as the time you have taken to share your thoughts with us. Please be assured we have noted your comments.

Thank you for your interest in American Girl®!

Sincerely,
American Girl® Customer Service

At this point all I can do is urge all of you to look at Girl, Inc.'s history and message of support and advocacy for all of our girls and to applaud American Girl for supporting them.

Thanks! Maman