American Girl is in hot water with some parents over a new book about body image that also addresses gender identity and suggests puberty blockers.
The Daily Mail shared excerpts from the book, entitled A Smart Girl's Guide: Body Image: How to love yourself, live life to the fullest, and celebrate all kinds of bodies, which is targeted for girls age 8 through 11.
“Your gender expression can be feminine, masculine, or somewhere in between — and it might change! Maybe you’ll experiment with bright dresses and long, feminine hairstyles. Or you might try baggy shorts, plaid shirts, and a buzzed haircut. Your gender expression should make you feel at home in your body.”
“Parts of your body may make you feel uncomfortable and you may want to change the way you look. … ‘That’s totally OK!”
“If you haven’t gone through puberty yet, the doctor might offer medicine to delay your body’s changes, giving you more time to think about your gender identity.”
“You can appreciate your body for everything it allows you to experience and still want to change certain things about it."
Parents have taken to Twitter to express their outrage about the book.
Parents are also upset because the book encourages children to talk to an organization if they don't trust their parents.
"If you don't have an adult you trust, there are organizations across the country that can help you. Turn to page 95 for more information."
Other parents are applauding American Girl for addressing these issues and some of the reviews of the book on Amazon are very positive.
"I gave this book to my daughter to read independently after I read it myself. I told her to come to me with any questions she has. She has asked me a few things, specifically the gender identity. However, the book made these difficult conversations so much easier to have. I don't think this is a one and done sort of topic or book though. When discussing these types of things, provide kids with a variety of resources."
Source: Daily Mail