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CCMommy
EVERYTHING CHANGES
Member since 12/07 2528 total posts
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CC's Mommy
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American Girl's Newest Doll is Homeless
American Girl released an addition to its collection of sociologically accurate dolls this year -- and she's homeless.
The Wisconsin-based company, whose Web site declares that it celebrates girls and all they can be, is well-known for its tasteful, well-researched dolls reflecting certain periods in American history. Now, Gwen Thompson joins the company's line.
Gwen's story is told through another doll's biography, which, according to The New York Post, is decidedly modern: Her father ran out on the family and her mother lost her job. By winter, the fatherless family is living in their car. The doll sells for $95 and is available online or at American Girl retail locations.
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Posted 9/25/09 12:44 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
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dpli
Daylight savings :)
Member since 5/05 13973 total posts
Name:
D
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Re: American Girl's Newest Doll is Homeless
I would be very interested in seeing how the sales of this doll compare to the others.
I get the concept and I don't necessarily think it's a bad idea, I just wonder if parents would choose to buy this particular doll, or if the company even expects them to.
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| Posted 9/25/09 12:50 PM |
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Jax430
Hi!
Member since 5/05 18919 total posts
Name:
Jackie
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Re: American Girl's Newest Doll is Homeless
Does anyone else see the irony of the homeless doll selling for $95? I know they are all expensive, but if these are supposed to be doll that girls can relate to, I think they should have a lower price point. Otherwise, they are "sociologically accurate" dolls only for people with a high socioeconomic status!
ETA: I have the feeling, unfortunately, that those who can afford these doll probably will not be choosing the homeless one for their child. I hope I'm wrong!
Message edited 9/25/2009 12:54:20 PM.
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| Posted 9/25/09 12:53 PM |
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KGools
Happy
Member since 9/06 9532 total posts
Name:
Kim
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Re: American Girl's Newest Doll is Homeless
Interesting. I agree with a PP about being curious to see how this doll does.
I used to LOOOVE American Girl dolls. I had Samantha and I just went onto the site and you can't even get her or any of her stuff anymore.
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| Posted 9/25/09 12:53 PM |
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Re: American Girl's Newest Doll is Homeless
If this is true, I'd rather teach my child about those less fortunate by having them give $95 or their time to a charity that helps homeless children rather then by buying a baby doll that is pretend homeless! That is a learning experience!  Profiting off home less children...where does it end??? 
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| Posted 9/25/09 12:57 PM |
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MrsFab
this is bliss.......
Member since 10/08 1234 total posts
Name:
Mb
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Re: American Girl's Newest Doll is Homeless
Posted by BaseballWidow
If this is true, I'd rather teach my child about those less fortunate by having them give $95 or their time to a charity that helps homeless children rather then by buying a baby doll that is pretend homeless! That is a learning experience! Profiting off home less children...where does it end???
good point!
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| Posted 9/25/09 1:06 PM |
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Jax430
Hi!
Member since 5/05 18919 total posts
Name:
Jackie
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Re: American Girl's Newest Doll is Homeless
Posted by BaseballWidow
If this is true, I'd rather teach my child about those less fortunate by having them give $95 or their time to a charity that helps homeless children rather then by buying a baby doll that is pretend homeless! That is a learning experience! Profiting off home less children...where does it end???
You make an excellent point. I would hope that some of the proceeds from this doll are at least going to charity.
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| Posted 9/25/09 1:08 PM |
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Sash
Peace
Member since 6/08 10312 total posts
Name:
fka LIW Smara
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Re: American Girl's Newest Doll is Homeless
I think its stupid, technically arent all the dolls homeless, meaning that they are need of a home
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| Posted 9/25/09 1:08 PM |
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Re: American Girl's Newest Doll is Homeless
This whole thing makes me wonder....do you think people had problems with Cabbage Patch Kids back in the day, being that you "adopted" them? That it lessened the realities surrounding adoption or made light of a sensitive subject?
I mean I was a kid then and didn't think about those kind of things but now as an adult 
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| Posted 9/25/09 1:18 PM |
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Cpt2007
A new love!
Member since 1/08 5946 total posts
Name:
Liz
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Re: American Girl's Newest Doll is Homeless
Posted by Jax430
Posted by BaseballWidow
If this is true, I'd rather teach my child about those less fortunate by having them give $95 or their time to a charity that helps homeless children rather then by buying a baby doll that is pretend homeless! That is a learning experience! Profiting off home less children...where does it end???
You make an excellent point. I would hope that some of the proceeds from this doll are at least going to charity.
both excellent points. i think once they make the actual announcement of it, they will get some harsh feedback, and i wouldn't be surprised if the entire retail cost for each of those dolls is donated to charity.
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| Posted 9/25/09 1:21 PM |
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Jax430
Hi!
Member since 5/05 18919 total posts
Name:
Jackie
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Re: American Girl's Newest Doll is Homeless
Posted by BaseballWidow
This whole thing makes me wonder....do you think people had problems with Cabbage Patch Kids back in the day, being that you "adopted" them? That it lessened the realities surrounding adoption or made light of a sensitive subject?
I mean I was a kid then and didn't think about those kind of things but now as an adult
I think that CPKs were a little different, b/c it wasn't like they were supposed to be children who were given up by their parents and put in an orphanage. They grew in a garden of cabbage! I even remember the song "Cabbage Patch Kids growing in the garden. Cabbage Patch Kids growing in the sun. But the most amazing thing about a Cabbage Patch Kid is that they each grow up to be a special one."
I feel like b/c the whole premise was so fictitious, it was okay...unlike American Girl Dolls, who are supposed to be realistic.
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| Posted 9/25/09 1:24 PM |
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annoyedTTCer
LIF Adult
Member since 4/09 3272 total posts
Name:
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Re: American Girl's Newest Doll is Homeless
Anyone here ever hear of Little Miss No Name?
She was a homless doll, came dressed in a potato sack
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| Posted 9/25/09 1:26 PM |
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Re: American Girl's Newest Doll is Homeless
Posted by Jax430
I feel like b/c the whole premise was so fictitious, it was okay...unlike American Girl Dolls, who are supposed to be realistic.
Ok, yes. Def a difference!! I forgot about the whole premise of those dolls being grown in the garden...then again I was told i was found in a potato field! 
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| Posted 9/25/09 1:30 PM |
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Re: American Girl's Newest Doll is Homeless
Posted by Cpt2007
both excellent points. i think once they make the actual announcement of it, they will get some harsh feedback, and i wouldn't be surprised if the entire retail cost for each of those dolls is donated to charity.
That would be great but the whole concept still turns my stomach a whole lot. Not to mention that not every family where the father leaves ends up homeless. Plenty of single women do just fine supporting their families. Could you imagine being a little girl, getting this doll and story and 6 months later Daddy takes off. The kid would be convinced she'd be living in her car before she knows it!!
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| Posted 9/25/09 1:33 PM |
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Re: American Girl's Newest Doll is Homeless
Posted by annoyedTTCer
Anyone here ever hear of Little Miss No Name?
She was a homless doll, came dressed in a potato sack
From 1965. You'd think we would have evolved as a society since then....
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| Posted 9/25/09 1:34 PM |
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kahlua716
3 Girls for Me!
Member since 8/07 12475 total posts
Name:
Keri
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Re: American Girl's Newest Doll is Homeless
Posted by Jax430
Does anyone else see the irony of the homeless doll selling for $95? I know they are all expensive, but if these are supposed to be doll that girls can relate to, I think they should have a lower price point. Otherwise, they are "sociologically accurate" dolls only for people with a high socioeconomic status!
ETA: I have the feeling, unfortunately, that those who can afford these doll probably will not be choosing the homeless one for their child. I hope I'm wrong!
That was my first thought as well.
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| Posted 9/25/09 1:37 PM |
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Sash
Peace
Member since 6/08 10312 total posts
Name:
fka LIW Smara
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Re: American Girl's Newest Doll is Homeless
Posted by BaseballWidow
Posted by Jax430
I feel like b/c the whole premise was so fictitious, it was okay...unlike American Girl Dolls, who are supposed to be realistic.
Ok, yes. Def a difference!! I forgot about the whole premise of those dolls being grown in the garden...then again I was told i was found in a potato field!
I was found in a tree
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| Posted 9/25/09 1:43 PM |
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Jax430
Hi!
Member since 5/05 18919 total posts
Name:
Jackie
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Re: American Girl's Newest Doll is Homeless
Stork brought me, of course. 
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| Posted 9/25/09 1:43 PM |
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annoyedTTCer
LIF Adult
Member since 4/09 3272 total posts
Name:
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Re: American Girl's Newest Doll is Homeless
Posted by BaseballWidow
Posted by annoyedTTCer
Anyone here ever hear of Little Miss No Name?
She was a homless doll, came dressed in a potato sack
From 1965. You'd think we would have evolved as a society since then....
yep, thats the one.
My aunt still has hers, that's how I know about her.
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| Posted 9/25/09 2:01 PM |
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ny55angel
car seat tech & geek :-)
Member since 2/06 4346 total posts
Name:
P
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Re: American Girl's Newest Doll is Homeless
Posted by KGools
Interesting. I agree with a PP about being curious to see how this doll does.
I used to LOOOVE American Girl dolls. I had Samantha and I just went onto the site and you can't even get her or any of her stuff anymore.
They retired Samantha about a year - year and a half ago when they came out with a new historical character Julie (the 70's girl) and Rebecca (from 1914)
Gwen sales overall probably won't do as good as other "girls" because she is a "friend" of the girl of the year doll Crissa. Her run in "American Girl" is almost up, as they come out with a new girl of the year in a few months.
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| Posted 9/25/09 2:05 PM |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: American Girl's Newest Doll is Homeless
Posted by Jax430
Does anyone else see the irony of the homeless doll selling for $95? I know they are all expensive, but if these are supposed to be doll that girls can relate to, I think they should have a lower price point. Otherwise, they are "sociologically accurate" dolls only for people with a high socioeconomic status!
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ITA, first thing I thought of. Do they give a portion to charity, etc? I dont know anythign about this company but i find this ridiculous to be honest.
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| Posted 9/25/09 2:12 PM |
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MsSissy
xoxoxo
Member since 3/07 39159 total posts
Name:
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Re: American Girl's Newest Doll is Homeless
Posted by BaseballWidow
If this is true, I'd rather teach my child about those less fortunate by having them give $95 or their time to a charity that helps homeless children rather then by buying a baby doll that is pretend homeless! That is a learning experience! Profiting off home less children...where does it end???
I agree.
I was really hoping to see that the proceeds from this doll would be going to a homeless organization.
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| Posted 9/25/09 2:13 PM |
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Nifheim
allo
Member since 1/09 5476 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: American Girl's Newest Doll is Homeless
I have to say going to that store in NYC is amazing and eating there is a little girl's dream to sit in that dinning room. I wish I knew about it as a kid but then again my parents didn't have much money to be spending it on $100 dolls. My niece on the other hand has well off parents so we do a trip once a year now there and i enjoy it.
But on the topic, i think the revenues should go to charity on that doll.
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| Posted 9/25/09 2:25 PM |
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GioiaMia
Let's Go Rangers!
Member since 1/07 14818 total posts
Name:
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Re: American Girl's Newest Doll is Homeless
Posted by Jax430
Stork brought me, of course.
I was found in a garbage can covered in hair and they had to shave all of it off to see what I was. 
ETA: According to my brother, of course.
Message edited 9/25/2009 2:27:09 PM.
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| Posted 9/25/09 2:26 PM |
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heathergirl
Cocktail Time!
Member since 10/08 4978 total posts
Name:
American mouth
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Re: American Girl's Newest Doll is Homeless
Posted by Jax430
Posted by BaseballWidow
If this is true, I'd rather teach my child about those less fortunate by having them give $95 or their time to a charity that helps homeless children rather then by buying a baby doll that is pretend homeless! That is a learning experience! Profiting off home less children...where does it end???
You make an excellent point. I would hope that some of the proceeds from this doll are at least going to charity.
I completely agree.
I understand they're trying to be socially aware, but what makes them think kids want a doll like this (I look forward to their marketing campaign) or what they think the intended effect will be.
I think it would have been more appropriate to sell a less expensive doll and donate $ to charity.
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| Posted 9/25/09 2:28 PM |
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