American Girl Homeless Doll: Meet Gwen

American Girl has released a homeless doll called Gwen. For those who don't know, American Girl dolls are rather pricey toys with rather pricey accessories. While I don't think that a homeless doll is necessarily inappropriate during the recession, when so many Americans have lost their homes, I do find it amusing that the American Girl homeless doll costs $95. And you can take these dolls to, what, a doll hair salon to have their hair done for twenty bucks. Should we really be teaching our kids that hair isn't user-serviceable?

Otherwise, I'm not really getting why this is "controversial", unless people just don't have anything else to talk about. (If you wanna be outraged, that's cool, but pick something really outrageous, like a dogfighting ring at a daycare center)
Andrea Peyser at the New York Post seems to take spersonal offense at the American Girl homeless doll, calling it "political indoctrination". However, the presence homeless children in America is a fact, and not a political stance. Yes, kids live in cars. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news on this one.

Apparently, Barbie did indoctrinate her. She just doesn't realize it yet. I gotta agree, though, that salespeople referring to the dolls as people themselves is a bit creepy. Though not nearly as creepy as Cabbage Patch Kids. With those unblinking eyes...