Guest post by Elise Ronan

I fondly remember receiving my American Girl Doll in the 3^rd grade. “Molly” came with 6 books which told an American story about a young girl growing up during World War II while her father was in England caring for wounded soldiers. Several of my friends had different American Girl Dolls and their books to match, telling different stories of girls in different time periods. They had an extensive catalog (laughing at the days before websites) with all kinds of accessories and books.

 In 1998, American Girl Doll published a book called “The Care of Keeping You” and several friends had this book in elementary school. While we were playing with dolls on occasion and starting to get more interested in magazines, music, dancing, and games this book was in the mix. It was a book about the changes girls go through in puberty, basic grooming tips, and information about periods. It was about how even though these changes can seem scary or uncomfortable, every girl goes through it, and it is a part of life. It also gave tips for how to talk to your parents or family members if you have questions.

“The Care of Keeping You” is a stark contrast to one of their newest publications “Body Image” which was released in November 2022. The description of “Body Image” seems innocent enough: “how to love yourself, live life to the fullest, and celebrate all kinds of bodies”, however when you get into the book there are some problematic topics that I certainly wouldn’t want my adolescent (or younger) daughter reading. Instead of teaching our kids to embrace who they are and how they were made (in the image and likeness of God), this book details the ideas of gender identity and then goes so far to suggest, if not advise, that you can just delay puberty with simple medications until you can find out who you really are on the inside. Whatever other redeeming qualities the book may have, it is all lost to me when gender ideology starts getting pushed. Here is an excerpt from the book:

“If you’re questioning your gender identity—or if you already know for sure that you’re trans or nonbinary—talk with an adult you trust, like a parent or school counselor. That person can connect you with a specially trained doctor, who can help you and your family decide what’s best for your body. At first, you and the doctor might talk about wearing the clothes and using the pronouns (like he, she, or they) that make you feel like the most true you. If you haven’t gone through puberty yet, the doctor might offer medicine to delay your body’s changes, giving you more time to think about your gender identity. And if you’ve already gone through puberty, a doctor can still help. Studies[?] show that transgender and nonbinary kids who get help from doctors have much better mental health than those who don’t. If you don’t have an adult you can trust, there are organizations across the country that can help you. Turn to the Resources on page 95 for more information.”

I wonder what other kind of “Woke Makeovers” the company is pushing within their book series and the new and old dolls. I see “Molly” has come out of retirement and I can only wonder if her books have been updated because classic American History through the eyes of a young GIRL just seems so passé in 2022.

The Internet is buzzing with stories about this, which I guess is a GOOD thing. Hopefully. Click here, here, and here to read more. The sad reality is that NOTHING is sacred anymore. Not even beloved childhood dolls…