The New American Girl Doll

Has American Girl jumped the shark? On that note, has the phrase "jumped the shark" jumped the shark? The controversy over the new "Gwen" doll sure has people talking about the company and there's no such thing as bad press right? If you haven't heard, Gwen, is a homeless girl and is meant to teach girls about the realities of homeless people in the U.S. I'm not convinced that this is A.) sincere and B.) really going to teach girls whose parents can shell out the $95 to buy the doll about the plight of the homeless.  Although my oldest never got into these dolls much (thank you, Lord, and our bank account thanks you), we have enjoyed their books and I'm a huge proponent of how they've celebrated the lives of young women throughout history. I'm just wondering if they've created this doll, knowing it would create a buzz. 

If you read some of the product reviews on the AG website, there isn't much mentioned about her being homeless. More about how beautiful she is and her pretty dress. One shopper was concerned that she didn't have any accessories to accompany her...umm... she's homeless, therefore I'm guessing accessoryless. Perhaps the book should be about a family who keeps buying these dolls for their daughter, racking up the credit card, how with interest a $95 doll turns into a $195 doll, the bills don't get paid, the house goes into foreclosure, and they move in with Grandma. Isn't this the current American experience?
American Girl defends itself by saying that they donate millions of dollars worth of clothes and toys every year. Yeah, their clothes and dolls. How about some cash?

I don't have a problem with them making this doll. Just don't hide behind some guise of social responsibility. If that's the goal, why not have a doll who has cancer? Or whose parents are getting divorced? Or whose father is in the military? I'm just sayin'. Weigh in here- Tell me your thoughts.