Jackson Free Press

Oct. 14, 2005—AP is reporting that the Tupelo wingnuts are at it again:

American Girl, manufacturer of a highly popular line of dolls and children's books, has become the target of conservative activists threatening a boycott unless the toy maker cuts off contributions to a youth organization that supports abortion rights and acceptance of lesbians. The protest is directed at an ongoing American Girl campaign in which proceeds from sales of a special "I Can" wristband help support educational and empowerment programs of Girls Inc., a national nonprofit organization which describes its mission as "inspiring girls to be strong, smart and bold."

American Girl, whose often patriotic products have long had a loyal following among conservatives, issued a statement Friday defending its support of Girls Inc. and assailing the protest campaign.

"We are profoundly disappointed that certain groups have chosen to misconstrue American Girl's purely altruistic efforts and turn them into a broader political statement on issues that we, as a corporation, have no position," the statement said.

The Mississippi-based American Family Association, in a campaign launched Wednesday, is urging its members to demand that American Girl halt support for Girls Inc., which it called "a pro-abortion, pro-lesbian advocacy group."

"Let American Girl know they are making a terrible mistake," AFA chairman Don Wildmon said in a statement. The AFA says it has more than 2.2 million members.

The Pro-Life Action League, a Chicago-based anti-abortion group, also is asking supporters to contact American Girl to express dismay. The league's executive director, Ann Scheidler, said her organization might call for a boycott of American Girl's products and organize picketing at its stores in Chicago and New York if the company doesn't sever ties with Girls Inc.

"Parents need to know that this effort to promote self-esteem among girls is not as innocent as it seems," Scheidler said. "While Girls Inc. has some good programs, they also support abortion, oppose abstinence-only education for girls, and condone lesbianism."

American Girl, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. (MAT), said the "I Can" initiative supports three specific Girls Inc. programs - building girls' skills in science and math, developing leadership skills, and encouraging athletic skills and team spirit.

Previous Comments

ID

103192

Comment

Letter on the Girls Inc. site: To all friends of strong, smart, and bold girls: Girls Inc. has empowered girls for over 141 years, first as Girls Clubs of America and since 1990 as Girls Incorporated. In centers across the country, generations of girls have learned their strengths, explored their worlds, prepared for productive, interesting lives, and offered each other the support necessary in dealing with the challenges of growing up. Grounded in research and tested in the field, Girls Inc. programs address the whole girl. They build her athletic skills and competitive spirit, nurture her ability and interest in science, math and technology, equip her with critical health and sexuality information, provide her leadership experience, teach her media literacy and money management skills, and foster her self-respect and self-determination. Programs such as Girls Inc. Operation SMARTÆ, Girls Inc. Discovery LeadershipÆ, and Girls Inc. Sporting ChanceÆ help girls understand who they are and acquire the skills and knowledge needed to make smart, informed decisions about their lives. In addition, since 1992 Girls Inc. has provided over $1.8 million in college scholarships to girls who have become leaders in all walks of life and has played a crucial role in advancing girls' rights through supporting legislation such as Title IX and the Violence Against Women Act. Recently, our mission to help girls develop their self-esteem and self-reliance has become the target of false, inflammatory statements from people who are pursuing a narrow political agenda. Girls Incorporated stands on its long positive history. The millions of lives we have touched speak for who we are and our values. Thanks to all of you who believe in our mission of inspiring girls to be strong, smart, and boldÆ. Together, we will continue to work to help all girls realize their potential. Cordially, Joyce M. RochÈ President and CEO Girls Incorporated

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-10-14T23:27:15-06:00

ID

103193

Comment

Here's where you can donate to Girls Inc. This is my official charity of the month: http://www.girlsinc.org/ic/page.php?id=5

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-10-14T23:28:20-06:00

ID

103194

Comment

Also, there isn't an affiliate in Mississippi. We should really p!ss off the North Mississippi Angry Men's Club (N-MAM) up in Tupelo and start one: http://www.girlsinc.org/ic/page.php?id=7_mississippi Strong, smart and bold, indeed.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-10-14T23:30:13-06:00

ID

103195

Comment

Thanks Donna. You beat me to it.

Author

emilyb

Date

2005-10-15T08:16:45-06:00

ID

103196

Comment

Actually, I have *zero* free time, but that Girls Inc. looks right up my Ally. Hey! Speaking of Ali! You in? Can we make this happen? God bless the AFA! Otherwise, I would not know my options! I'm up to my neck in boy scouts, but this girl thing might could happen too!

Author

emilyb

Date

2005-10-15T08:24:39-06:00

ID

103197

Comment

[email][email protected][/email] Email me if you're interested. The more I'm reading it, the more I'm loving it!

Author

emilyb

Date

2005-10-15T08:27:56-06:00

ID

103198

Comment

I'm heading to Chicago on Tuesday, so I'll let the folks at the American Girl store know that I'm from MS, and I fully support their support of Girls, Inc. I also think this boycott is doomed to failure. They're totally underestimating the American Girl phenomena.

Author

kate

Date

2005-10-15T08:41:27-06:00

ID

103199

Comment

I couldn't believe this when I read it. I knew those folks were a little nutty, but this is over the edge (and I'm not talking about the Girls, Inc. people). :-) N-MAM! Too funny, Donna. I think you accidently left out a letter in that acronym, though ;-) . 'cause, I betcha 99.9% or more fit it, too.

Author

C.W.

Date

2005-10-15T09:41:39-06:00

ID

103200

Comment

Don't forget, C.W., that the ground that the radical right is losing right now is making their real agendas very clear -- from racism to sexism. And it amazing that they get more radical, and more ugly, as the curtain is lifted. I mean, just look at Bill Bennett's comments. Gross. This American Girl mess should simply spur action, pure and simple. To be honest, the plight of women is horrendous in this state. Beyond the blatant sexism of even a lot of "educated" men, look at the statistics. Most violent for women. State worse off. The cuts in programs to help single mothers. The attempt to make the state abortion-free AND not even let married women get birth control (!). The agenda is very clear from the N-MAM sort: Even though many have come around to the idea that they need a woman's paycheck to support the family, they still want their women compliant, weak and dumb politically. They want to run around and cheat themselves, while women are working AND being good wives and not speaking up too loudly about issues that matter to them. So, let's take it on. Let's start an American Girl chapter asap. That will be symbolic at the least. Let's put out a press release about it, looking for membership. But, most importantly, let's challenge the cavemen of our state and demand that conditions improve for women. Let's respond to wingnuts in the best way possible: by allowing them to motivate us to improve our state. What are other ideas?

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-10-15T09:53:53-06:00

ID

103201

Comment

Also, we must really target the economic well-being of women in the state. How many women do you know in bad marriages only because they would have trouble raising their families without the adulterer's income, for instance?

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-10-15T09:55:51-06:00

ID

103202

Comment

This is a great time to point everyone back to Casey's cover story, "In Mississippi, Are Girls on the Side?", of earlier this year. It will remind all of the work we need to do to improve Mississippi for girls and women. Let's get to it.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-10-15T10:16:52-06:00

ID

103203

Comment

I should add, though, that I think the BEST thing we women can do for our female counterparts here is lead by example. Be loud, strong, bold -- and even angry when it's warranted. Encourage other women, especially young ones, to do the same. Nothing drives me crazier than these teeny-tiny little voices of our young girls who act like they are afraid to open their mouths. (Not that a teeny voice always mean that, but too often does.) On the positive side, though, I simply cannot tell you how many young women walk up to me, call me, e-mail me to say that reading strong females voices in our paper has helped them have the courage to speak up. So, Ali and Emily and Kate et. al, know that your blogging and writing is really making a difference already. As for you, C.W., maybe you need to use a name here that is obviously female. Just a thought, and a non-judgmental one.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-10-15T10:20:42-06:00

ID

103204

Comment

BTW, B!tch magazine has a blog thread going about this over on their (s)hitlist, should anyone want to comment or such. You can also go shopping, while you're there, being that even us hard-ass chicks love to shop. I like the tank tops, and the B!tch bikini panties are pretty cool.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-10-15T10:28:03-06:00

ID

103205

Comment

Oh, and don't miss Bust Magazine. They are a little less uptight than B!tch and has a very cool design. And you can buy "What Would Joan Jett Do?" t-shirts there. ;-)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-10-15T10:34:20-06:00

ID

103206

Comment

I had a big ol' post that disappeared! Seriously though. I'm thinking this one through. Once or twice a month...during a lunch...somewhere somehow....a group of us committing to low income girls. Showing them success. Bringing in women who can inspire. I know I had a few. My single-dad boyfriend tells me that what he wants for his girl is a strong sense of self. Let's get together and see what we can do to show that strong sense to those who may not have role models to instill it. I'm seeing "learn to change a tire day" and "you don't need the love of a boyfriend to be a great girl" day. Email me....let's brainstorm. We have the resources.

Author

emilyb

Date

2005-10-15T14:36:06-06:00

ID

103207

Comment

And thanks for telling me that Donna! If my loud mouth is making a difference somewhere....it's making up for all the "could you be a little quieter" i'm hearing in other places ;)

Author

emilyb

Date

2005-10-15T14:37:19-06:00

ID

103208

Comment

Quieter? Screw that. Think about it anyway: Is there anyone telling you that whom you really want to impress? I didn't think so. Inevitably, the people who dislike my "boldness" the most are exactly the ones I want to dislike it because they're the ones who think they can shut up other people. Nothing delights me more than losers like that complaining about me being too loud. Don't worry: They'll catch up, or go play with themselves in the corner. Always remember: Boldness attracts boldness. Confidence attracts confidence. On that, allow me to rave for a moment. I can't stand women (or men) whose self-esteem is so low that all they attract is other people with low self-esteem. If you have a self-esteem problem, go do something about it -- don't hang out around people who make you feel worse about yourself because they're such losers. I've heard women say they stay with self-hating men "for the children." For the children? Oh yeah. This is going to be healthy for the children -- two people who hate each other multiplying their hatred to everyone around them. I learned a long time ago that negative people are ... just that. Negative people. I don't need 'em. The world doesn't need them. Spread love, spread happiness, spread confidence, spread compassion. But do not spread negativity and self-loathing to everyone in site. And this state has some self-loathers, let me tell you what. Whoa, buddy. Yes, Emily, let's do this, and let's encourage mentoring of young men, too. There is simply nothing more important for us adults to do than help young people, I believe. Nothing. I also like "Learn to drive a stick day" -- a powerful woman should be able to drive anything she needs to to get her anywhere she needs to go. Eleanor Roosevelt: "You must do the thing you cannot do." Those words have driven me my entire adult life, not to mention my teen years. That's how I've learned to love roller coasters, run a business, manage people, get over fear of public speaking, write better (removing egotistical obstacles to see what needed improvement), develop a wide and educated reference, turn the other cheek on ugly people, turn negatives into positive, not to be threatened by other people's success, and so on. A dirty little secret about me -- the woman whom detractors try to paint into a commie corner -- is that I am so driven by competition. There is likely no one on the planet more, er, free enterprising than I am. I have learned to use every negative thing pointed my way, every obstacle, as motivation to do even more. It's like fuel for my fire. I think I got this drive from my mama's stubborn effort to never seem stupid even though she was illiterate. She was my inspiration, and is still the fire in my belly even though she's moved on to the big Garage Sale in the Sky. (My mother, you see, was an entrepreneur even though she couldn't read or write. In her later life, she bought and sold junk, basically, every Saturday to help pay her bills. I should write about that sometime soon. She was a wheeler-dealer. Hmmm.) Most importantly, my mother believed I could do absolutely anything I wanted to do and told me that constantly. She believed; therefore, I believed. And due to her educational handicap, we both believed that the key to all of that knowledge lay in books and magazines and newspapers and the written word. She was right. Her lessons: Love yourself. Love other people despite your differences. Be compassionate. Learn something new every single day of your life. And, perhaps most importantly, always have faith in the human spirit. These are lessons I want to help teach young women. And young men for that matter. Let's do it.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-10-15T15:23:24-06:00

ID

103209

Comment

I've found a woman near Memphis who has a Girls Inc. chapter there to get ideas from. She said there is also info we can get to do girl days with section 8 somehow! :)

Author

emilyb

Date

2005-10-15T16:32:54-06:00

ID

103210

Comment

And I do have some excercises on self-esteem/self-worth and what they mean in terms of success. Learn to drive a stick day is FABULOUS! You are RIGHT ON there.

Author

emilyb

Date

2005-10-15T16:36:04-06:00

ID

103211

Comment

I already KNOW how to drive a stick. I do so love to drive fast. ;) I identify with the "competition" thing, Ladd. I've always been the one that would do the exact thing you told me I couldn't...and do it TEN TIMES harder just to show YOU what the hell I "couldn't" do. Emily, you are gonna think this is SUCH a strange analogy, but I was watching "Rosemary's Baby" today and kept getting angrier and angrier that she was a stay-at-home wife and was walked over in so many ways by her husband. I can't begin to explain how the whole horror "point" of the movie was lost on me. What was MORE horrible was how she was so trapped by the situation. He told her what doctor she could and couldn't see. The second she said the line, "If YOU won't pay for it, then...." I finally understood why my mother beat the idea into me to NEVER have children unless I was capable of supporting them on my own. She never told me to plan on "divorce", per se. She just made sure I understood that the ability to walk out the door if you needed to and having a paycheck with which to do it...automatically cuts down on a lot of the ways that women can be taken advantage of in relationships. I make more money than my last two boyfriends. Why in the hell do I need to get married? (At least that's what I tell my family) ;)

Author

Lori G

Date

2005-10-15T22:05:32-06:00

ID

103212

Comment

Well, Donna, does it help if everyone here knows that I am a woman? Is there anyone who couldn't guess by reading my posts? And if they didn't guess, didn't I prove my point? :-) I love it the few times that I have been addressed here and in other forums that made it obvious the man answering me thought I was also male (and it's always been a guy who sounded like a mcp to me). Made me feel like I had just given them a big ole raspberry without them knowing it. I don't know if that makes sense to anyone else, but it does to me. Maybe it's my age showing. You guys are awesome, I am so far behind I had to read all the posts in order, but damn, right on to everything y'all have written.

Author

C.W.

Date

2005-10-15T22:51:39-06:00

ID

103213

Comment

P.S. I don't drive a stick at the present (got what was on sale), but I prefer it. Not because I like to drive fast, but because you can always roll it off if it won't start. :-)

Author

C.W.

Date

2005-10-15T22:53:43-06:00

ID

103214

Comment

I can drive a stick too smarty pants :P Yes. There is the huge problem of women thinking they need a man for survival, but there is also some deep-needed (I'm sure ali can define) thing missing when girls don't have attention from daddy/absent daddy/etc. I feel very strongly that that is when young girls start making not-so-good sexual choices. And I know that Rosemary's Baby fear WELL. It would give me great joy to make it possible for others to never experience that fear. That distrust. That paranoia. It's hell.

Author

emilyb

Date

2005-10-16T07:27:40-06:00

ID

103215

Comment

Okay gals, I'm back from Chicago, and I've got American Girl "I Can" bracelets for Donna, Ali and EmilyB. The bracelets are really just a fundraising gimick for Girls, Inc., and I never would have even noticed them, if not for the boycott. They're only a dollar each (and therefore not promoted very heavily at the store), and proceeds go to Girls, Inc. So, I can drop them by the JFP office, or if we want to have a Girls, Inc, chapter planning meeting, I can bring them to that. Plus, you'll be happy to here that one of the American Girl dolls, Kit (depression era girl, helping her parents pay the bills, etc), starts her own newspaper in her attic bedroom. And, there's Samantha (1904), who gives an impassioned speach about awful working conditions for children in US factories. They've got some mighty good girl power stuff going on up there. As my mom pointed out, this boycott should be about as effective as their Harry Potter boycott.

Author

kate

Date

2005-10-22T08:16:54-06:00

ID

103216

Comment

I HEART KIT. I HEART KIT. I HEART KIT. There's a dolly after my own heart. ;-D Organizational meeting over margs soon? (Not served in tumblers, of course.)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-10-22T08:34:43-06:00

ID

103217

Comment

OMG Kate. I love you. One time at the Chick Ball, there was this GORGEOUS girl who came up to me and asked "Aren't you the one who writes that column?" And I was so SHOCKED that someone reads what I write, that I kind of stuttered an intro when I SHOULD have invited her down for a drink. She's a single mom in Fondren. So good-looking single mom chick in Fondren, if you are reading...email me at [email][email protected][/email] Wed. RIGHT after work is great for me. 5:30 or so. JFP office? The free drinks on Wed. place? My apartment? What do y'all think. We need to get this ball rolling!

Author

emilyb

Date

2005-10-22T09:42:02-06:00

ID

103218

Comment

I'm in. Give me details. I was out of town all day yesterday having dinner with the devil. I will explain that later. Kate, you bought me a BRACELET? How sweet. I love people that buy me things! ;) I wanna be Samantha. Can I? Can I? Margaritas? all day long...NO SALT!

Author

Lori G

Date

2005-10-23T07:40:19-06:00

ID

103219

Comment

I'm still without cell service and will be until tomorrow it looks like :( Let me think on it and I'll email ya. Anyone who wants to get in email me, once [email][email protected][/email]

Author

emilyb

Date

2005-10-23T16:42:25-06:00

ID

103220

Comment

Y'all are cracking me up - the bracelets were only $1 each, so no need to fall in love with me quite yet. Plus, the play we went to see at American Girl place was a musical revue, where each girl acted out the story of her favorite doll. It seems we're well on our way to having our own little version of that here. Cheesy and commercial as some of it is, you have not lived until you've seen a cast of girls ages 8 to 14 or so, basically acting out American History from the point of view of little girls. They hit Native Americans, Colonial Virginia, Spanish New Mexico, life on the midwestern praries, Civil War/Slavery (Addy, who escapes slavery during the Civil War with her mother), Victorian era/Suffragette/Child Labor/Unions, Depression and finally WWII. The girls are, of course, plucky and courageous, things mostly work out for them. But, they don't whitewash everything - for instance, Addy and her mother have to leave her baby brother behind when they run away, and characters die at realistically young ages. Sorry to gush, but I'm just so amazed that this stuff is out there, and I can see the positive effects that it's having on my girls.

Author

kate

Date

2005-10-24T10:21:28-06:00

ID

103221

Comment

Girl, don't apologize. I read that and think how CUTE would it be to stage a production that grown women from Jackson write about THEIR experiences growing up and some little girls acting it out. I'm with ya. And I loved you before the dollar. You had me at hello or something like that.

Author

emilyb

Date

2005-10-24T15:52:45-06:00

ID

103222

Comment

Wow, y'all have been blogging your faces off in my absence during which I wrote my face off. There is not a vein left to be drained. ;-D Are we meeting today? I vote for our small "committee" gathering and then make a plan for including others. And I can't wait to get my bracelet. Are they pink? Please say yes.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-10-26T12:29:44-06:00

ID

103223

Comment

Bracelets are, sadly, not pink. And, keep in mind they're cheap little things, so don't get your hopes up too high. Their main value is knowing that they're annoying to the folks in Tupelo. If you want some pink, check out Salon's new blog, Broadsheet, which is billed as a blog for women's issues.

Author

kate

Date

2005-10-26T13:45:46-06:00

ID

103224

Comment

That's OK. I'm not ungrateful. Let's just make our Jackson chapter bracelets pink. ;-) Also, have y'all seen the pink Eudora buttons floating around? A little bird tells me that folks are wearing them to symbolize an underground campaign to get the name of the reservoir changed to the Eudora Welty -- rather than named in honor of a racist old coot who represents the Worst of Mississippi, not the Best. They're Ginger Williams buttons, although she did not design them with that in mind. But they're cute as buttons. (Hardy har har.)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-10-26T14:09:03-06:00

ID

103225

Comment

Broadsheet looks OK, considering you have to watch the free damn ad to just get to the blog! I really dig Feministing, which our resident feminist and dreamy blogger, Tom Head, recommended. He is so much better of a feminist than I am! Man. I gotta get caught up. Love those tank tops over there. I want one.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-10-26T14:12:28-06:00

ID

103226

Comment

apropros of not much, other than Donna's comments about the tank tops, this is my current favorite T-Shirt. As for Salon's Broadsheet, I sprung for the subscription, so I don't have to click through ads to get there, so between that and their War Room blog, I can get tons of news snippets.

Author

kate

Date

2005-10-26T14:23:49-06:00

ID

103227

Comment

Yeah, that's funny. ;-) And I know about the subscription; I'm just cheap. But it is good that you can (not) watch a dumb ad and read Salon for free, unlike some other elitist publications we shall leave unnamed. Screw Maureen Dowd's column. (Also "Woman of Mass Destruction" did rock, I must admit. Now, if she'd written it a year or more ago, I'd be truly impressed. Anyway.)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-10-26T14:32:10-06:00

ID

103228

Comment

Okay, gals, Salon's Broadsheet has finally picked up on this. Attention Broadsheet shoppers! Run, don't walk, to American Girl Place! Broadsheet boycott update: Where to spend all the feminist do-gooder dollars you're saving by eschewing Target, Abercrombie, and all things Cinderella? American Girl Place. Wait, what? Marjorie Ingall, the Forward's "East Village Mamele" columnist (reg. required), notes this week that: "A few weeks ago, the American Family Association and other conservative groups threatened a boycott of American Girl dolls because American Girl contributes to Girls Inc. (formerly Girls Clubs of America), a 141-year-old national nonprofit youth organization. American Girl is currently selling cute little star bracelets, the proceeds of which support Girls Inc.'s programs in science and math, leadership skills and athletics. AFA calls Girls Inc. "a pro-abortion, pro-lesbian advocacy group." (Wow, like the entire state of Vermont!) This is because its Web site (in an area it took me several minutes of clicking to find) declares its support for Roe v. Wade and says that girls have a right to "positive, supportive environments" when "dealing with issues of sexual orientation." Also this week, a Catholic school outside Milwaukee canceled an American Girl fashion show that would have raised enough money for a new playground and library renovation -- all, as the Chicago Sun-Times put it, because of "concerns that the doll company behind the show gives money to a national girls organization that accepts abortion and lesbian sexual orientation." "It's a bargain we'll just have to pass up. The cost is too high. Our integrity isn't for sale," said a pastor at the school, The Academy of Our Lady of High Dudgeon. (The school's real name is St. Luke School.) How to express our outrage? How to demonstrate true American values? Shop shop shop! Writes Ingall: "I myself have been boycotting American Girl for many years. But only because I think dolls are creepy and want to stab me in my sleep. Okay, and also because the idea of getting dragged into a universe in which you have to buy the dolls (at $87 a pop) and the clothes for the dolls and the matching clothes for your child and the wagons and the beds and the horses and the books and then you have to take the entire plastic mishpocha to American Girl Place and get everybody's hair styled and eat in the cafÈ with its special doll-chairs and teas and... where was this sentence going? Oh yeah, it makes me hyperventilate. (And American Girl is like the black-tar heroin of the doll world. You think you're just going to buy one educational book and one Kirsten the 1854 Pioneer Girl from Minnesota, but before you know it you've bought 42 dolls and you're muttering to yourself and living in a cardboard box on the Bowery....) Until now, conservatives loved American Girl, what with the dolls being patriotic and nonhoochily dressed. My own mother-in-law has been salivating to buy Josie one since her birth. I've always said no. Now, however, thanks to this boycott, I just told her to knock herself out. Thank you, American Family Association! The enemy of my enemy is my doll!" That, and you can also donate directly to Girls Inc.

Author

kate

Date

2005-11-04T10:27:17-06:00

ID

103229

Comment

LOVE IT!! Kate, I think I scared your husband last night. I must remember my muzzle in public. I'm checking the non-profit thing today. :)

Author

Lori G

Date

2005-11-04T10:34:39-06:00

ID

103230

Comment

How much is that Kit doll? I want her! Somebody tell Todd.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-11-04T10:45:31-06:00

ID

103231

Comment

Um, TODD!!! HEY, TODD!! (I really want to call him "Todd, Todd The Web Blog God" right now) Donna wants the Kit doll. ;)

Author

Lori G

Date

2005-11-04T10:54:40-06:00

ID

103232

Comment

Just call him The iTodd, for short. That's his office name.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-11-04T11:16:25-06:00

ID

103233

Comment

What's a kit doll?

Author

Todd Stauffer

Date

2005-11-04T12:51:20-06:00

ID

103234

Comment

Read above. It's the chick who started a newspaper in her attic. ;-D That's my kind of doll-baby.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-11-04T12:54:30-06:00

ID

103235

Comment

Hi, folks. I was browsing Feministing just now and ran across some bad news: Inexplicably, Mattel has sold out. Why should I be surprised that the company that makes Barbie is happy to concede to raving chauvinists? Well, if the spineless wankers have so much respect for boycotts, it's only fair to provide them with another one... I'm sending out some emails. Oh, and also from Feministing, here comes the idiotic quote of the day. From Pottery Barn Kids, which makes $250-650 bright pink kitchen, vacuum cleaner, etc. sets for girls and airplane, sports, etc. sets for boys: When asked about the kitchen set only being included in the “girls’ rooms” section, company spokesperson Lauren Nelson replied, “I think girls tend to be better at domestic play. Boys have tool sets and train sets.” Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2005-12-30T18:27:14-06:00

ID

103236

Comment

Tom, the statement from Mattel was that the partnership was designed from the outset to be only one year. Which makes sense, so I can believe that more easily than I can believe that the wankers in Tupelo had any effect on the sales of American Girl Dolls. I mean, look how successful their boycott of Harry Potter has been...

Author

kate

Date

2005-12-30T19:58:42-06:00

ID

103237

Comment

Kate, that's true, but they got Ford and Microsoft to blink in 2005--much bigger companies than Mattel. Besides, the AFA's target demographic is made up of parents who don't let their kids choose their own books anyway, so they may as well be boycotting assless chaps. I dunno. I'm reading further and I can see your point (I should have done more research before I reacted), but I guess the live question for me is whether the original plan was to at least consider renewal for 2006, given the relatively late date (August) of the promotional campaign. I've held off on the emails, and will wait to see what Girls Inc. says. If they defend Mattel's decision, then it's A-okay with me, and bully on Mattel for at least choosing Girls Inc. as a nonprofit partner. But if they suggest even the remotest possibility of shenanigans, I'm raising some hell... I'm not a very happy feminist this year, frankly. We saw the Supreme Court's first woman step down and her suggested replacement is a man who wants to get rid of Roe v. Wade, and is meeting no meaningful Senate opposition in his quest to do so. Harvard dons are making misogyny chic again. And it is becoming socially acceptable to say that women just aren't made to do some things, a view that I thought we got rid of in the '80s. I may just be a little gunshy and too eager to see one more defection where it might not exist. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2005-12-30T20:13:24-06:00

ID

103238

Comment

Ladies, I think we need to get back on this topic and revive this idea of setting up our own Girls Inc. chapter. Any thoughts?

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-03-19T19:05:57-06:00

ID

103239

Comment

I was thinking about it the other day. I'm in a better place now, but we definately need more help. We really need someone who knows non-profit set-up to help us get the ball rolling. I'm pretty sure that was our first step. Anyone out there know non-profits?!? I know we have a ton of paperwork to get going, and I know there is someone out there with some time and knowledge to help us out!

Author

emilyb

Date

2006-03-19T19:33:32-06:00

ID

103240

Comment

Why don't talk to one of the existing women's organizations about what to do -- or even, perhaps, falling under their umbrella. Any thoughts, Tom?

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-03-19T20:45:07-06:00

ID

103241

Comment

I know someone who is active in women's causes who I think would be very interested in this, and it's someone you've spoken to before... I'll drop y'all an email. If she's not interested, there are a few other folks who would be. The paperwork isn't so bad in terms of registering nonprofit groups with the state. The trickier part is making sure that all the right hoops are jumped through vis-a-vis Girls, Inc. The first step is probably to fill out the chapter formation information request form here, if you haven't already. Some national nonprofits prefer that you start off, and sometimes even remain, an unincorporated branch, so personally my thought is that hearing from the national folks is probably best before proceeding on one's own. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2006-03-19T22:30:25-06:00

ID

103242

Comment

(BTW- Needless to say, you can count me among the "a few other folks." Please consider me at your disposal if there's anything I can do to help!)

Author

Tom Head

Date

2006-03-19T22:31:49-06:00

ID

103243

Comment

emily b wrote: Anyone out there know non-profits?!? I know we have a ton of paperwork to get going, and I know there is someone out there with some time and knowledge to help us out! Hi everyone, I have a bit of knowledge of non-profits--I have helped another organization get "official"--mostly you need a structured board of trustees to sign off and then paperwork. I can help with this if you need me to, actually I'd love to be involved. I teach girls music lessons & love the idea of helping girls get to see themselves as strong and smart. There is another great resource in town: Mississippi Center for Non-profits in the Sec. of state building. they help non-profits get going and have lots of resources. --Laurel

Author

Izzy

Date

2006-04-02T10:35:00-06:00