The American Girl doll was created in 1986. The line of dolls portrays girls from 8-11 years old in different historical periods. Each doll comes with a line of books exploring what life is like for a girl at that time in history.
They also have dolls that are modern times and they deal with issues of the day. If that wasn’t enough variety they have a section where you can choose all the details of the doll to get the doll to look like you. This is a fun option. It is fun to see a young girl face the first time they see a doll that looks like them.
American Girls are the "Holy Grail" doll for younger girls. The rather large price tag makes them an investment as much as a toy.
The dolls are currently priced at $115 and don’t even get me started on the accessories that each doll has. You could buy a doll and her accessories or a small used car. They are exceptionally well-made dolls, unlike the cheaper ones that you can get in the store if something happens to these dolls (unscheduled haircuts and little brothers happen). You can send them off to the doll hospital and they will come back good as new.
American Girl has always tried to reflect the situations of the girls they serve are in. The company has a bald doll who has lost her hair in Chemotherapy, a wheelchair for the dolls and even a diabetes testing kit. Pretty much any situation your 8-11 year old finds herself in can find a doll that is just like her.
This past week American Girl came out with something I never thought they would come out with, an American BOY. Logan is his name and he is BFF with Tenney Grant, one of the modern day dolls who wants to be a country singer. Logan is her right-hand drummer.
The company said the introduction of Logan is to answer a call from mothers who desire a boy version of their insanely popular dolls.
I am pretty sure Logan will find his way to the rather extensive doll collection we have at our house. I am just not sure how many boys will actually ever play with him.
I personally have no issue with boys playing with dolls. I think the role play with dolls build social skills and empathy.
Another collection American Girl dolls is called itty bitty. I could see a young boy getting a doll as to help him adjust to being a big brother. Four or five is probably the age limit that a boy would truly engage in play with a doll.
For boys in the 8-11 age range that American Girl aims for, they typically play with action figures, and if anything, Logan will now be a SEAL coming to rescue the other American Girls or a villain terrorizing his sisters' dolls.
People will say that boys won't play with dolls because of lifelong gender stereotypes forced on our children by the media and parents. My response to that is “Eh, maybe”. I have a house of all girls and I can tell you that the American Girl dolls in our home have been orphans forced to ride the orphan trains out west. They have been caught in rock slides forced to await rescue from her dolly friends. The dolls in our house are definitely not sitting around sipping tea.
The books that accompany the series have strong male and female characters often pushing the boundaries of gender ideals.
I am sure that there will be well-meaning gender stereotype bashing moms who get their son Logan, but I am just not sure there is an 11-year-old boy who would be caught dead with one. It is a great idea and I am sure Logan will be well loved by all who get him, but at $115 a pop, I am not sure that it's worth it for a 10 or 11-year-old boy.
My prediction: Logan won't make it to 2018. I think that he will likely cause more discussions than most parents at that age want to have.
Boys definitely need more influences in their world to teach them love, compassion and respect for women. I think that the best way to teach a young boy how to act with love and respect is by the example of his parents and people around him, not a pricey doll.
Just for fun, I asked my friends on social media with boys if they would purchase Logan.
One said if they asked for him, most said not a chance, and others said I don’t care, boy or girl, I would NEVER spend $115 on a doll.
If you are one that says agree with the last answer, then don’t even look on their website. They draw you in and before you know it, you have 10 dolls naked (I don’t know why my daughter keeps them naked) lined up on your daughter’s dresser and her bookcase overflowing with American Girl books.
Don’t even get me started about how amazing the historical books are. Forget Logan, read those books they have strong men and women who helped change and shape history. Women are treated as equals and men don’t shy away from taking care of their family. Girls are inspired to fight against bullying, believe in themselves to accomplish dreams and so much more. Through the journey, the historical girls take in the books a girl gets to experience the Revolution, suffrage and the Great Depression through the eyes of a girl their own age. They are truly amazing books. Thanks, American Girl, for trying with Logan.
