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Kelsey Bolar is a Senior Policy Analyst at Independent Women’s Forum and executive producer of the series Identity Crisis.
American Girl has betrayed America’s parents.
As a mom to a three-year-old, I had a dream that my daughter unwrapped her very own American Girl doll on Christmas morning. Unfortunately, it won’t be this year. Or possibly ever.
The iconic company once known for “bringing out the joy of childhood” has woken up and is now teaching young girls how not to be girls.
In his book titled ‘Body Image: How to Love Yourself, Live Life to the Fullest, and Celebrate All Body Types,’ American Girl offers a ‘smart girl’s guide’ to the social and medical transition from one gender to another.
If you’re wondering why a toymaker would feel compelled or even remotely qualified to wade into one of the most volatile and controversial issues in tween health, you’re not alone.
Moms and dads across America have erupted in protest, and now the company has responded, surprisingly, by doubling down and criticizing parents.
“We value the opinions and feedback of our customers and appreciate perspectives on this topic,” the company wrote. “The content in this book, designed for children ages 10 and older, was developed in collaboration with adolescent care and medical professionals and consistently emphasizes the importance of having conversations and discussing any feelings with parents or trusted adults.”
This is an absolute outrage. Nothing in this statement or the terribly shallow, one-sided, and downright dangerous treatment of this explosive subject matter in this book shows that American Girl values anything very highly.
The book was written by Mel Hammond in consultation with Carly Guss, a physician at Boston Children’s Hospital who specializes in “gender-affirming health care” for youth and young adults.
As the mom of a three-year-old, I dreamed of the day my daughter would unwrap one of her very own American Girl dolls on Christmas morning. Unfortunately, it won’t be this year. Or possibly ever.
The iconic company once known for “bringing out the joy of childhood” has woken up and is now teaching young girls how not to be girls. (Above) American Girl Dolls
To say that children as young as 10 may have difficulty understanding these concepts is an understatement. And to present these radical ideas so flippantly in an illustrated brochure is insulting.
“How you display your gender to the world through clothing and behavior is your gender expression,” the book explains. “While gender expression is what you show on the outside, gender identity is how you feel on the inside,” she continues, “a girl, a boy, or someone who doesn’t fit into either category.”
However, even gender dysphoria experts say there is no scientific consensus on what ‘gender identity’ or ‘gender expression’ is. But here it is, written without qualifications or explanations. Delivered directly to his son, regardless of context.
“We are committed to delivering content that leaves our readers feeling informed, confident and positive about themselves,” the statement read.
‘Informed’?
Rather uninformed.
The whole subject is presented in this way. The author does not delve, provide any voice to credibly opposing positions, or, most critically, tell the stories of failed medical transitions.
For those who don’t understand how potentially harmful it is to encourage children to identify as the opposite sex, consider the many stories of transitioners documenting the lifelong complications they now face.
prisha mosley, for instanceexperienced the harms of transgender indoctrination firsthand.
As a young teenager, Mosley was so uncomfortable with her own body that when she learned about transsexualism online, she thought assuming a masculine identity would make her feel better.
Despite a well-documented history of mental illness, including severe anorexia, doctors and therapists put Mosley on the line. ‘trans assembly line,’ as described by a doctor. At 17 he was prescribed testosterone. A year and a half later, a plastic surgeon cut off her healthy breasts.
For those who don’t understand how potentially harmful it is to encourage children to identify as the opposite sex, consider the many stories of detransitioners documenting the lifelong complications they now face.
Even gender dysphoria experts say there is no scientific consensus on what ‘gender identity’ or ‘gender expression’ is. But here it is, written without qualifications or explanations. Delivered directly to his son, regardless of context.
“The moment I said the word gender, everyone was all over me,” Mosley told me. “They were medicalizing me very quickly.”
Now 24, Mosley questions how a team of healthcare providers not only allowed, but encouraged a mentally challenged teen to permanently mutilate her body at such a young and innocent age.
Mosley now struggles with male hair growth on his body and face, a permanently lower voice, and no feeling in his flat chest. She suffers from vaginal atrophy and dryness, which not only makes intercourse painful, but also causes distressing urinary symptoms. After years of testosterone, Mosley doesn’t know if she’ll ever be able to conceive her own children.
“They really made me a medical patient for life,” Mosley said.
The writers of the book American Girl Body Image conveniently omitted these graphic and unpleasant side effects of ‘gender shifting’. No mention of sad truths like not being able to conceive your own children or the possibility of never being able to experience an orgasm.
And of course they weren’t mentioned: it’s a children’s book! It is a clear warning sign that children are not ready for this type of content.
American Girl also didn’t bother to include the fact that most boys who develop gender dysphoria before puberty reach a point of acceptance of their bodies after going through natural puberty, or that many European countries are ending gender dysphoria. use of puberty blockers in boys. with gender dysphoria, due to long-term health risks and lack of evidence that they help.
The most outrageous part of all of this is that the book also suggests a way for children to escape their own parents. The book points children to resources that can help them transition “if they don’t have an adult they can trust.”
The book was written by Mel Hammond (above) in consultation with Carly Guss, a physician at Boston Children’s Hospital who specializes in “gender-affirming health care” for youth and young adults.
These organizations include transgender activist groups Human Rights Campaign and The Trevor Project, the latter of which has been accused of instructing minors on how to hide their transition from parents and exposing them to sexually perverse content.
Fundamentally, no ‘body image’ book should advise girls to change their bodies if they are experiencing the natural insecurities and discomforts that accompany puberty. But the message that American Girl is sending is much worse than that.
American Girl and its parent company, Mattel, are actively guiding healthy, growing girls toward medical interventions with potentially catastrophic implications. And they are suggesting that 10-year-old girls undergo these ‘treatments’ without their parents knowing.
Parents are rightly outraged at the promotion of a reckless ideology to our girls. But let’s be clear: our outrage is not political. It’s about protecting our daughters.
No girl should be taught to hate her body or hide medical information from her parents. Instead of encouraging confidence, these woke corporations are instructing girls to medicalize their insecurities.
The American Girl Company claims to be ‘a trusted partner in empowering girls with confidence and character’ since 1986. By publishing this book, American Girl has betrayed that trust.