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I own and love Gwen and her story, but I agree with some of the controversy. It’s complicated.

I think AG did a good job at educating children in real-life issues while also giving Gwen respect as a character. Her story represents a bad situation that real girls face sometimes, and I think it’s important for children who are not in those situations to understand what other people are going through. I also appreciate the fact that the doll does not reflect the most common negative stereotypes about homeless people. By the end of her story in Chrissa’s books, Gwen gets a nice outfit and some friends who treat her with kindness, achievable goals for all children if the appropriate social supports are in place. Gwen gets a positive ending, showing the kinds of girls who can afford an AG doll what can be achieved if we all pitch in and help each other. Those are wonderful lessons to teach any kid.

However, in spite of that glowing character analysis, I think there are some major unfortunate implications found in charging over $100 for a doll that canonically sleeps in her mom’s car. I think Gwen is a good character to have in children’s literature, but there are valid criticisms to be made about dressing up traumatic circumstances in a cute sundress and flip flops in order to turn a profit for a giant company like Mattel. That was where the bulk of the controversy was found, as I remember it. Like, yeah, most people agreed at the time that AG teaches girls good lessons, like selflessness, empathy, charity, etc. There were some people that I remember on the AG forums way back when who were upset that homelessness was a topic of conversation at all, but most people were just weirded out by the fact that AG essentially paywalled and profited off of stories of real financial hardship that real children experience.

I don’t know. I love my Gwen. I also see why some people were upset enough to write news articles about her. All of this controversy was taking place during an economic recession that made Gwen’s story a true story for so many children.

I Don't Get Why Gwen Was Controversial?

As the title says, I don't get the controversy.

Was it because it showed people being nice to her even though she was homeless at one point? I mean, that's common courtesy.

Of course, certain people didn't see it that way and complained that it 'taught kids to sympathize with the homeless.' There's a song I like called What It's Like and it has a verse that goes (pardon the wrong pronoun):

God forbid you ever had to walk a mile in his shoes 'cause then you really might know what it's like to sing the blues.

Felt that verse worked.

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Minuk and the Sealskin (amirkanek)!

This sealskin belongs to me. It’s not in the best condition, unfortunately- it’s shedding hairs. As per my aunt, the word for a beat up skin is aminraq. As you can see, the hairs on a seal’s coat are thick and almost rubbery, with a spring to them. They vary based on where in the coat they come from. 

Minuk has never seen such a big sealskin in her life, and she says she wants to live in a world where all the seals are this big! She enjoyed a nice nap and made herself a little tent.

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Has anyone moved their collection (dolls, furniture, clothing, all of it) recently (or ever)? I’m moving in the not-so-distant future, and it’ll be my first time moving since I’ve really started collecting - the last time I moved, my childhood AG/doll stuff was still boxed up at my parents’ house and I only moved one doll (Diana) and her little suitcase of clothes and accessories. I have exponentially more stuff now 😅 I still have plenty of time to plan it all out, but I can’t stop thinking about it. I don’t even have that large of a collection compared to some people, but the thought of trying to pack and move it all is so overwhelming!

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I'm mad because I do kind of like the train, but not with the HP branding, and I'm certainly not paying $$$ to HER to have the opportunity to repaint it.

Finally! We have the answer to the question nobody asked: "what if the Our Generation train set was worse and also funded bigotry?"

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Finally! We have the answer to the question nobody asked: "what if the Our Generation train set was worse and also funded bigotry?"

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doll ebay be like

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are you going to get the new Kit doll?

Probably not. I might get some of the collection, but I already have my early 2000s Kit back home.

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Sometimes I see a person's face and I think about which American Girl doll face mold they have. Tom Cruise, for example? Marie-Grace.

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classic kit is coming back!!!!! :D

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I’m screaming The Last of Us has an American Girl store but certain dolls that shouldn’t exist are there.

In the Last of Us society ended in fall of 2003 so Kira and Makena weren’t even thought of yet, and Josefina wouldn’t be wearing her beforever meet outfit. Plus Kira is not Rebecca.

On one hand I’m screaming at the AG reference and on the other hand I’m pointing out the historical inaccuracies 😂 I love it when my fandoms collide, even if it’s for 5 seconds

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bought the 2005 catalog introducing Marisol Luna....forgot about Hopscotch Hill School dolls! They had so much stuff!

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Hey American Girl, if you're going to sell an outfit that doesn't include certain parts, can you show us what the outfit looks like without those pieces changing the shape and style of the outfit? None of the promo shots show the doll wearing the outfit without the knee pads on.

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From the American Girl Museum. Why are Nicki and Isabel apparently eating pizza off the floor of their bedroom?

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From the description of the desk set. Nicki and Isabel’s family celebrates Christmas.

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Did I mention my mom got me Kathleen for my birthday a couple weeks ago so I have all the GOML dolls now?

I lined them up chronologically because I am Very Autistic

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OK ag. you have now done the entire 20th century like you wanted. Now can you please can you do more 1800s/1700s dolls please? More dolls of color too, you were doing so well what the fuck happened

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