Every year, ‘American Girl’ releases a new doll that a consumer can only buy during that year. The doll of the year is different from the rest of the American Girl collection because all of the books, clothes, and items regarding the doll is relevant to the current year. The girl of the year has ranged from characters who are ice skaters to American Girl dolls are supposed to represent a fearless girl from different eras in United States history through the book series that comes with each doll. Some of the eras include Revolutionary War, the Great Depression, Civil War, and the Women’s Suffrage Movement in the early 1900s. Three of the most famous American Girl Doll movies had actresses such as Shailene Woodley (who played Felicity), AnnaSophia Robb (who played Samantha), and Abigail Breslin (who played Kit)as their inspiration.
In the past, American Girl has created prominently white characters. Although the stories that are created are for empowering girls, it’s sometimes hard for girls to not see their race, religion, or ethnicity represented on as big of a platform as American Girl. This year, the girl of the year is named Luciana Vega, and her character hails from San Antonio, Texas. She is of Latin-American descent and is the only other American Girl doll that is latina other than Josefina (whose story takes place in 1824) that is currently for sale. The last Girl of the Year that was latina debuted in 2005 with Marisol. Luciana Vega’s dream is to be an astronaut and goe to Mars. She is also heavily interested in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math).
The American Girl doll of the year is going to empower young girls to follow their hearts and embed into their minds that if you set your mind to something, you can achieve it.
American Girl made a statement regarding ‘Why Luciana Matters’ says, “For more than 30 years, American Girl has believed in a simple truth: Every girl has the power to change the world. Part of that power derives from learning that character counts, that enduring values—like authenticity, fairness, respect, and perseverance—provide a solid foundation for facing new challenges and solving problems in an always-changing world. And like the characters who came before her, 2018 Girl of the Year™ Luciana Vega™ shows what it can mean to be a girl of strong character in her time, in this particular historical moment that we all share, where creative thinking, collaboration, and STEM literacy provide opportunities for meaningful growth.”
In the United States, women aren’t nearly as encouraged to become engineers as their male counterparts, and it starts at a very young age. The interest in mathematics and science is evident in young girls, but as they grow up the world around them causes them to not continue with those subjects. According to National Girls Collaborative Project, women make up more than half the United States College Educated workforce, but only 29% of the science and engineering workforce. Also, according to the National Science Board, although the STEM field has become more diverse, there are many racial and ethnic groups that are heavily underrepresented. On a better note, “The increase in female participation in science and engineering over the past two decades includes increasing participation by members of all racial and ethnic groups, especially Hispanic and Asian women.” Luciana Vega both represents a girl with a dream to become an astronaut, and also her Latin-American heritage resonates with more girls in the United States.
When young girls read about people they look like or resonate with, they can see a whole new world of possibility for themselves. The American Girl website also says, “As education historian Dr. Kim Tolley notes, a “complex web of social and cultural influences have facilitated and hindered the participation of girls in science” throughout the history of science education in the United States. And, time and again, research in child development and learning has shown that girls need positive role models: real-life individuals as well as fictional characters whose narratives help girls think about their own character, their own aspirations, and the kind of person they want to be. Having strong female role models benefits boys, as well: by breaking notions of ability, achievement, and areas of interest free from stereotypes, children can begin to imagine a wider range of possibilities for themselves. Working to include underrepresented populations in STEM, where girls who might see something of themselves in Luciana have been largely excluded, opens new possibilities for children to experience, understand, and participate in their world.”
The American Girl doll of the year is going to empower young girls to follow their hearts and embed into their minds that if you set your mind to something, you can achieve it. Hopefully, characters like Luciana Vega will inspire young girls to stick with their education and if they have a passion in STEM, to never give up on it.
Photo: Goodhousekeeping.com
