There is a store on Main Street of our city that has large window display in the front. In fact, it has a separate, squared window that you can walk all the way around in the entrance of the store. In this squared window section waits about twenty baby dolls, each in their own “hospital bassinet.”
D, Munchkin, JD, Nicholas and I walked past the display today on our way to get smoothies. I’ve lived here just long enough to not notice it all that much. D, of course, was caught a bit off guard. I did mention that it’s my least favorite window display in the city because of the crass way that baby dolls are on “display” for adoption. I’ve often wondered if other birth parents or adoptees are bothered by the display. For that matter, adoptive parents with ethical beliefs about how adoptions should take place. It’s bothersome to me, at the very least. And then D pointed out something I hadn’t previously noticed: they were all white.
Our city is pretty diverse for a smaller area. We have quite a few ethnicities represented in larger numbers. So why would all of the baby dolls be white?
As a member of a transracial family, things like these get under my skin. D also just let me know that all of the African American Barbie dolls have straight black hair. That’s mind boggling to me as the Munchkin’s hair is the farthest thing from straight you could ever imagine.
And so, I think I’m going to write the local store a letter. I’m pretty sure that my admonishment regarding the way adoption is displayed will be somewhat over their heads. However, even if they don’t remove the display, maybe they could start to carry a more diverse selection of dolls. (But I’ll hope for total removal… or a change in wording!)
Good luck with your letter.
I wrote our senator once about our state’s “adopt-a-highway” clean up signs asking them to change it to “help-a-highway” (which is actually more acurate and sounds more catchy too). I got a letter from her saying she would “look into it” but 4 years later they are still going up.
I guess I should not have expected much from a state that allowed the KKK to sponser a part of the road in their little clean up program huh?
Jenna, keep us posted on if anything comes of the letter – I’m curious!
I hate those “adoption” dolls. And all white ones, huh? Sheesh!
Ohhhhh, when I was buying for a girl for our church’s Adopt-A-Family program for Christmas (I know, I know, the name, but at least it was for charitable purposes), the girl wanted a black Bratz doll. I tried the Target store where I work — NO black Bratz dolls!! The town just south of where I work, the town where I live, actually where I went about 2 weeks later — a bunch of black Bratz dolls. And if I remember correctly, some of them do have curly hair. I’m not really a fan of Bratz dolls, but at least they get some things right.
I think it’s great you think you’ll write a letter. I say go for it — and I wish I lived close enough that putting my name on it might help with impact in numbers. I try to speak up when I see these things and although most-times I get shrugs (the same confused looks when someone asks me all about openness), I feel like I’m trying. I tell myself that one day, one day, someone will get it. And the display will change. Or the wording will change. Someone’s mind will open and change — and before they know it they’ll be telling others. As for Deb Donatti’s thoughts on the adopt-a-highway signs — I’m right there with you, although sometimes I wonder if I’m being too sensitive. I’d thought of “sponsor” a highway, but “help” is so much better! Just these last couple days I noticed a new batch in an area I drive often — maybe sending a letter out is called for. If I could just figure out how to do it so it doesn’t sound nitpicky and super sensitive about language…
Ick. That makes me crazy.
Tell us who to write to! One letter from you may work, but hundreds of letters from us will definitely make a change!