Your average American Girl can’t really afford the American Girl doll, including one of its newest editions, Homeless Gwen Thompson, who retails for $95. She came out earlier this year to compliment the American Girl’s Clarissa doll, who’s notable for befriending ANYONE, including a black girl named Sonali, and homeless Gwen. Recently the media has widely publicized the doll in a most negative light when we learned that no funds from the purchase of the doll will be sent to charities for the homeless.

People are divided about the situation, some people embrace Gwen and her representation of the recession and less advantaged families in the United States. Other believe that the presence of the doll “institutionalizes” the idea of homelessness in a child’s mind.

I do think that a portion of Gwen’s profits should go to homeless shelters, but I don’t really have a problem with the doll’s existence. The girls who receive these pricey dolls are usually a little better off than the status quo, so I think it’s probably beneficial for them to learn a little bit about the struggles of other children going through a more difficult time, if just on a superficial level.

Gwen’s dad left the family, then Gwen’s mom lost her job and was unable to pay the bills, resulting in Gwen and her mom living in a car. She also gets bullied in school. Some find this back story creepy, but it’s an interesting spring board for the imagination of young girls. They can use the story to identify with Gwen, feel empathy for that type of situation, and develop a greater capacity for compassion.

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