Date of Award
Spring 2017
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Major
American Studies
First Advisor
Jack Gieseking
Second Advisor
Cheryl Greenberg
Abstract
This thesis examines the contributions that American Girl dolls make to the development of girlhood, as well as doll and toy culture. I argue that the BeForever collection of historically centered dolls both informs consumers of United States history while instructing them of what it means to be a wholesome, virtuous girl. American Girl provides timeless stories about overcoming hardship in various periods of U.S. history while utilizing common themes in children’s literature to construct an attractive narrative. These dolls and their stories contribute to consumers’ understanding of girlhood, their sense of self, and broad comprehension of history. Recent developments within the company to diversify the BeForever collection of dolls points to a shift in the historical narrative consumers want to engage with.
Recommended Citation
Vaughan, Kelly M., "America Through Rose-Colored Glasses: How American Girl Dolls Shape American Girlhood and Identity". Senior Theses, Trinity College, Hartford, CT 2017.
Trinity College Digital Repository, https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/theses/626
Included in
American Literature Commons, American Material Culture Commons, American Popular Culture Commons, Critical and Cultural Studies Commons, Gender and Sexuality Commons, Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication Commons, History of Gender Commons, Other Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons, United States History Commons, Women's History Commons, Women's Studies Commons
Comments
Senior thesis completed at Trinity College, Hartford Connecticut for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in American Studies.