Explores how complex notions of girlhood are defined by the American Girl brand Discusses how feminist rhetoric has influenced marketing directed toward American women and girls Explores what American Girl books and dolls communicate to girls about femininity, racial identity, ethnicity, and what it means to be an American

Autorentext
Emilie Zaslow is Associate Professor of Communication Studies at Pace University, New York City, USA. She is the author of Feminism, Inc.: Coming of Age in Girl Power Media Culture (2009). ****

Zusammenfassung
This critical account of the American Girl brand explores what its books and dolls communicate to girls about femininity, racial identity, ethnicity, and what it means to be an American. Emilie Zaslow begins by tracing the development of American Girl and situates the company's growth and popularity in a social history of girl power media culture. She then weaves analyses of the collection's narrative and material representations with qualitative research on mothers and girls. Examining the dolls with both a critical eye and a fan's curiosity, Zaslow raises questions about the values espoused by this iconic American brand.

Inhalt

1. Introduction: Unpacking America's Dolls.- 2. Branding American Girl: The Making of Cultural Icons.- 3. Situating American Girl: Books and Dolls as Tools of Socialization in a Changing Culture.- 4. Baby Doll, You Made the World a Little Bit Better by Speaking Out for What You Believe In": Narratives of Femininity and Political Action in the American Girl Collection.- 5. From This Where Freedom Supposed to Be At to She Knew She Would Never Stop Speaking Out for What Was Right": Racial Logic and African American Identity in American Girl.- 6. This is my home": Representing Race, Ethnicity, and the American Experience in American Girl.- 7. Conclusion: Constructing America's Girlhood.