American Girl upsets parents with book that teaches children gender expression

Angry parents have blown up a book by doll brand American Girl about body image and gender, claiming it urges impressionable children to change their gender.

“A Smart Girl’s Guide: Body Image: How to love yourself, life life to the fullest, and his celeb all types of body” wants to teach girls to “live comfortably in their own skin,” according to American Girl – but some parents did contradict.

“Incredibly disappointed in your book ‘Body Image’, let those little girls be little girls. Stop the disgusting urge to introduce overly mature topics. It’s NOT your seat,” one mother wrote Twitter.

The 96-page book explains to its target audience of girls ages 8 to 11, “The way you reveal your gender to the world through dress and behavior is your gender expression.”

“Your gender expression can be feminine, masculine, or anywhere in between — and it could change! Perhaps experiment with bright dresses and long, feminine hairstyles. Or you can try baggy shorts, plaid shirts and a buzz haircut. Your gender expression should make you feel at home in your body,” the book reads, according to the Daily Mail.

“Parts of your body can make you uncomfortable and you may want to change the way you look. … “This is completely right!”

The book later adds, “If you haven’t hit puberty, your doctor may offer you medication to delay the changes in your body, giving you more time to think about your gender identity.”

“You can appreciate your body for everything it gives you and still want to change certain things about it,” the book advises.

american girl

american girl

american girl

After news of the progressive book spread, angry parents took to social media to question its appropriateness. Some even left negative reviews on American Girl’s website, claiming they were so upset they were now boycotting the brand entirely.

“How sad that a book tells a child they need to take medication to stop puberty or when parents don’t listen, look for organizations to do it, it’s all gender biased,” said one dissatisfied customer. “How sad this world gets that American Doll takes on the role (sic) of thinking that they should be giving gender assignment advice in a book. Shame on you.”

Conservative commentator and podcast host Allie Beth Stuckey continued to comment on the book Twitterand advises parents to “return your AG Christmas presents as soon as possible”.

“Gone are the days when American Girl taught girls about history and femininity. Now they’re encouraging our daughters to hate their bodies, stop their puberty, and cut off their breasts in the name of “self-love,” Stuckey said.

One reviewer urged the Mattel-owned brand to “stay in their lane.”

“I will not buy any more of your dolls or accessories for my grandchildren! Shame on you for introducing young girls to a book to change their gender. Get out of your lane,” the commenter wrote.

The American Girl doll was created by Pleasant Rowland, a school teacher and news reporter who was inspired to fill a void in the doll industry after being unable to find gifts for her nieces.

The company was later bought by Mattel in 1998 and has since been making modern dolls and books that teach young girls about their bodies, hygiene and feelings.