As someone else has pointed out, the problem/boycott isn't so much to pick on Girls Inc., per say, but the specific contribution from American Girl to this group. It isn't an appropriate charity for a line of products that is for sale in some Christian book stores - consumers of AG products have an expectation that the company is going to maintain some specific ideals. I don't expect a company marketing carbonated products with all sorts of unhealthy aspects (Coke) to have these same ideals. Additionally, this is the first out-in-the-open, you-can-participate-too charitable thing that American Girl has done (that I'm aware of, at least). The company needs to be aware that, if it wants to maintain it's current customer base, it needs to be sensitive to the beliefs held by those consumers.
"It isn't an appropriate charity for a line of products that is for sale in some Christian book stores - consumers of AG products have an expectation that the company is going to maintain some specific ideals."
Hmmm Well you know that is a good point. I can certainly see Christian books stores not wanting to sell a product if part of the proceeds go to pro-choice groups.
Maybe I was a bit hasty and I over-generalized. I can also see how people who like to shop at Christian bookstores could then follow. Yep I think I was hasty. Thanks for reasoning with me.
Mattel will never be sensitive to offending customers. They are essentially a monopoly, and they know you'll buy their products because there are no acceptably "cool" substitutes for Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher Price, American Girl, Uno, Scrabble, View Master, Magna Doodle, Diva Starz, Matchbox, &etc.
http://www.mattel.com/our_toys/default.asp?f=false&s=