(I just found this post. Apparently I never clicked “publish.” It was supposed to be published December 12, 2007. Whatever. Get over it.)
Well well. Mattel has finally stepped up to the “isn’t it ironic that American Girl is made in China and there’s no Chinese American Girl” challenge by developing Ivy Ling, sidekick to (white) American Girl Hippie Julie of 1974 San Francisco.
Unlike the other American Girls who have entire 12 book series devoted to them, Ivy has one measly book written about her, which my friend graciously purchased for me. It turns out Ivy was born in Northern California, is Cantonese, and also a gymnast. Oddly enough, these three things also apply to myself, so I am excited at the prospect of learning about someone “just like me!” (Actually, there is a 4 page summary of the history of Chinese in the United States as well as the prejudices they experience which is actually decent considering the source, so I won’t complain much about this book).
What I will complain about is that the other American Girl Historical Characters of color all get their own story. Addy the freed slave has 13 books in her honor, Kaya the Native American Girl not only has her own horses but also her own American Girl dogsled, and Josefina Montoya, the token Latina doll (she was in New Mexico in 1824, though the New Mexico territory belonged to Mexico until 1836 and didn’t become New Mexico the state until 1912, but never question the historic value of these books) has her own weaving loom and goat. So then I click over to poor Chinky Ivy, whose relatives are currently working in sweatshops to replicate her as quickly as possible, and the poor girl gets ONE thing, this shitty denim bag and a Chinese coin replica.
Here’s the American Girl Sorority House “I wonder who I’m going to wake up next to tomorrow morning” alcoholic-in-training package.
In general, the store is completely packed, to the point that you can hardly walk. Oh, except for this part.
Yeah, that’s where they sell the books. Because that’s the real reason everyone loves these dolls, right? Because of the educational factor?
They’re going to have to start making bigger bags, or just start using those big hammocks that they use to transport whales from Sea World to Marineland.
“Mummy, I want an American Girl NOW!”
Whatever Veruca Salt.
Can I just say WTF? I mean, any American Girl should have a purebreed show dog, why would you want to neuter it?
Anyway, now it’s 3 years later, perhaps my passion for this topic has cooled a bit. Then again, some of my friends are having daughters, and I am going to disown any of them who purchases one of these spoiled pieces of crap for their offspring. That’s a warning to you.

































