4 Doll Ideas With a Disability: American Girl, Release an American Girl Doll With a Disability Already
YingYing Shang has done something truly marvelous for her disabled little sister Melissa Shang - she started a petition for American Girl to release a disabled Girl of the Year doll.
Melissa Shang's request is just as reasonable as it is honorable. Afflicted with Charcot-Marie-Tooth, a form of muscular dystrophy, it's touching to know that through this deliberate action, she, herself, is actually setting an example of empowerment for many. In particular, other little girls, disabled or otherwise.
American Girl dolls are a viable alternative to the-rubbish-one-growth-spurt-away-from-a-landfill dolls that young women are somehow encouraged to play with lately these days, such as:
With American Girls 'Historical Characters', I was actually really disappointed to see that apparently nobody appeared to give the green light on such wonderfully inspirational historical figures as: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Amelia Earhart, Eleanor Roosevelt, or Anne Frank.
So if American Girls needs a little help on who they should design their hopefully future 'Enabled Historical Characters' dolls after per the Shang's sisters request and petition, and consider one of them for 'Girl of the Year' doll, here's four ideas of who could make excellent additions to that new line and surefire 'Girl of the Year' doll contenders:
1). Frida Kahlo - is a Mexican artist that sustained back inquires as a teenager in a trolley accident from which she'd never recover, yet she went on to become one of the most well-known artists of the 20th century. Kahlo also had misshapen leg from contracting polio as a child. As an artist, she is most known for her self-portraits, many that portrayed her in her wheelchair. She was a fierce and passionate artist and this drew the on-going attentions of other famed Mexican artist Diego Rivera--whom she no doubt served as a muse to.
2). Helen Keller - the first blind and deaf person to earn a college degree, she also published 12 books, including her spiritual autobiography, My Religion. Keller was a political activist, a member of the Socialist Party and campaigned heavily for women's and labor rights. She was a lecturer and served on the Alabama state quarter. The woman, Anne Sullivan, who was the impetus to this major change in Keller should also be celebrated!
3). Marlee Matlin - a deaf actresses who won an Academy Award for her leading role in the film Children of a Lesser God (1986), still stands to be the ONLY deaf performer to win an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role to date.
4). Sudha Chandran - accomplished in India despite losing a leg to infection after a 1981 car accident, she still became a well-known Bharatanatyam dancer, using a prosthetic "Japir foot," which enabled her to become one of the most highly acclaimed dancers in the entire world.
Melissa Shang's request is just as reasonable as it is honorable. Afflicted with Charcot-Marie-Tooth, a form of muscular dystrophy, it's touching to know that through this deliberate action, she, herself, is actually setting an example of empowerment for many. In particular, other little girls, disabled or otherwise.
American Girl dolls are a viable alternative to the-rubbish-one-growth-spurt-away-from-a-landfill dolls that young women are somehow encouraged to play with lately these days, such as:
BRATZ Dolls
Monster High Dolls
Barbie
With American Girls 'Historical Characters', I was actually really disappointed to see that apparently nobody appeared to give the green light on such wonderfully inspirational historical figures as: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Amelia Earhart, Eleanor Roosevelt, or Anne Frank.
So if American Girls needs a little help on who they should design their hopefully future 'Enabled Historical Characters' dolls after per the Shang's sisters request and petition, and consider one of them for 'Girl of the Year' doll, here's four ideas of who could make excellent additions to that new line and surefire 'Girl of the Year' doll contenders:
1). Frida Kahlo - is a Mexican artist that sustained back inquires as a teenager in a trolley accident from which she'd never recover, yet she went on to become one of the most well-known artists of the 20th century. Kahlo also had misshapen leg from contracting polio as a child. As an artist, she is most known for her self-portraits, many that portrayed her in her wheelchair. She was a fierce and passionate artist and this drew the on-going attentions of other famed Mexican artist Diego Rivera--whom she no doubt served as a muse to.
(One of her paintings).
2). Helen Keller - the first blind and deaf person to earn a college degree, she also published 12 books, including her spiritual autobiography, My Religion. Keller was a political activist, a member of the Socialist Party and campaigned heavily for women's and labor rights. She was a lecturer and served on the Alabama state quarter. The woman, Anne Sullivan, who was the impetus to this major change in Keller should also be celebrated!
(Beautiful Helen Keller).
(Earning that Academy Award).
4). Sudha Chandran - accomplished in India despite losing a leg to infection after a 1981 car accident, she still became a well-known Bharatanatyam dancer, using a prosthetic "Japir foot," which enabled her to become one of the most highly acclaimed dancers in the entire world.
It's difficult for anyone who's got any type of disadvantage to get by in this world let alone for a disabled person to excel in it. So let's honor ALL of these women by signing this petition, retelling their stories, by listening to their accounts of their life experiences, by being inspired - especially by the Shang's that remind us all, to petition with our sisters!
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