The American Girl dolls have been around for more than 30 years and their mission has remained the same: "Every girl has the power to change the world," it says on their site. "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."
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The doll was apparently inspired by girls in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math)..
According to the American Girl site, past Chief Scientist of NASA, Dr. Ellen Stofan gave a talk at the American Girl headquarters last fall on why it’s so important to encourage girls in STEM. "We are living in a society that is increasingly technology-focused [ … ], a society that is facing complex challenges. If we have only half the population–or slightly less than half the population–trying to figure out how to navigate this increasingly complex world we live in, we’re not going to do as well. We are not going to do as well if we’re not tapping into the talent of everybody."
This doll is so important.
It's especially important for brown girls, because it teaches them that they do have the ability to work in fields like STEM, where women are grossly underrepresented."I know I’ve got what it takes to be a real astronaut,” Luciana’s character says on the American Girl site. "With creativity, confidence, and a serious science streak, I can launch my dream of landing on Mars. But my teamwork skills still need work. I’ll have to learn how to reach others if I want to reach the stars."
STEM is good for a girl’s self-esteem and personal development.
In fact, the American Girl site referenced a 2013 National Science Foundation-funded study, that found that informal STEM experiences and opportunities positively influenced girl's personal development and identity.
There are books where little girls can learn Luciana’s story and a little bit about STEM.
There’s one of her visiting space camp and one of her under water adventures. So awesome!
She has a Mars habitat.
How cool is this?
But wait, it gets even better.
American Girl will be launching a Space Camp sweepstakes along with other STEM activities for young girls. You can sign up for emails here to be the first to know.
