Playing with America's Doll: A Cultural Analysis of the American Girl Collection

Zaslow, Emilie

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.

Details

Published by: Palgrave Macmillan

Publication Date: 2019-07-17

Format: Paperback

ISBN-13: 9781349936557

DOI: 10.1057/978-1-137-56649-2

Dimensions: 210cm x148cm

Pages: 204