Pro-Lifers Say Protests Effective; American Girl Launches 'Save Girlhood' Campaign
A pro-life group is saying that protests against doll-making company ''American Girl'' were successful as the new company launched a new ''Save Girlhood'' campaign.
A pro-life group is saying that protests against doll-making company “American Girl” were successful as the new company launched a new “Save Girlhood” campaign.
The Pro-Life Action League, which had staged protests at the company’s stores in several cities, had decried American Girl’s support for a support group for girls with pro-abortion views called Girls Inc.
"In contrast to American Girl's affiliation with pro-abortion Girls Inc, they have just launched a major ad campaign, designed to protect girls from growing up too fast," said Ann Scheidler, executive director for Chicago-based PLAL. "The sudden about-face is clearly a response to our boycott of American Girl during the Christmas shopping season."
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Instead of offering girls a fast paced mini-adult version of childhood, the campaign puts its focus on innocence, suggesting that girls and their parents interact in fun ways.
The PLAL protests involved young girls holding up “Girls for Life” signs along with their parents marching in front of stores. Some critics of the protests had stated that pre-teen girls should not be brought into the abortion debate.
American Girl’s previous campaign, titled “I Can,” had pledged to give 70 percent of money from sales of $1 bracelets in addition to $50,000 for Girls Inc. That campaign will end on Dec. 26.
"The League's boycott and the pickets have been highly successful. We are happy that American Girl is trying to win back our confidence. But we continue to be watchful," said Scheidler.
