American Girl launched Z Yang on a couple weeks ago, and if you live in New York City, Chicago, Seattle, Dallas or D.C., you lucky duckies can attend an in-store meet-up tomorrow — May 6, 2017. Keep reading for details.
“Z” is short for Suzie, and she’s a Korean-American from Seattle — a creative type who’s into taking photos and making videos. She comes with a book for $149 in Canada or $120 in the USA, and is based on American Girl’s stop-motion vlogger, who is now being brought to life for those who know her as the star of the immensely popular web series Z’s Crew.
Her shoes are probably my fave American Girl shoes to date:
And while her face is super pretty, as are all of the American Girls, and she’s got a cute little beauty mark on her left cheek, I can’t help but feel that the company should have made her more obviously Asian in the eyes. After all, when you have dolls with glasses, wheelchairs and spiral hair to help little girls who wear glasses, are confined to wheelchairs or have curly hair feel like there’s a doll out there just for them, then let’s have a Korean doll look a bit more Korean. (I still give them props for targeting inclusivity, though, and her accessory pack looks awesome.)
Z Yang events
To celebrate Z’s launch, American Girl is hosting Z events at five U.S. retail locations on Saturday, May 6, where fans will get to meet real girls who, like Z, have a strong online following based on their creative passions. They are…
- NYC: Basilmentos
- Chicago: AGSmiless
- Seattle: FiveHensandaCockatiel
- Dallas: Mixie Pixie
- DC: FiveDollStars
Have fun!
Elizabeth says
Oops… If I could edit, I would change “korean” to “asian”…eyes.
Elizabeth says
Oops… If I could edit, I would change “korean” to “asian”…eyes.
Elizabeth says
Sorry 🙁 Your comment about Korean eyes kind of makes me sad. More Korean? How so? Not all Koreans have “korean” eyes do they? The doll does have a different eye structure (corners) than the original doll. I am asian and other asians always thought I was mixed because of my bigger eyes but I have Chinese parents. I understand how yes, there are other dolls made with more specific details that relate to their identity but a child will choose whatever doll they think they relate to in anyway or form (physically or whatever their imagination leads them) – if we let them – with or without more ‘Korean’ looking eyes. I don’t know… Saying that a Korean doll should have more Korean eyes just gives me a bad feeling. Not all people of the same culture have the same features. Having ‘Asian eyes” is a stereotype that I wish wasn’t pointed out anymore. 🙁
Mommy Gearest says
Thanks for taking the time to write. I appreciate it and I think I understand where you’re coming from. Interestingly, a Korean reader of mine agreed with my comments (via my FB page), so I think it’s all very personal and subjective. Having lived in Korea for a year, I have firsthand knowledge of the many different eye shapes of Koreans — so I hear you. But I maintain that American Girl could have done just a bit more to make the doll look less Caucasian. She still looks very “white” to me, and that’s one of the things I always appreciate about AG so much. I definitely don’t want to be offensive or insensitive and I really do appreciate your POV, but Asian eyes (which I find beautiful, by the way) have a much more distinct shape — I don’t think this is a stereotype, just a fact! You wouldn’t agree?
Elizabeth says
Sorry 🙁 Your comment about Korean eyes kind of makes me sad. More Korean? How so? Not all Koreans have “korean” eyes do they? The doll does have a different eye structure (corners) than the original doll. I am asian and other asians always thought I was mixed because of my bigger eyes but I have Chinese parents. I understand how yes, there are other dolls made with more specific details that relate to their identity but a child will choose whatever doll they think they relate to in anyway or form (physically or whatever their imagination leads them) – if we let them – with or without more ‘Korean’ looking eyes. I don’t know… Saying that a Korean doll should have more Korean eyes just gives me a bad feeling. Not all people of the same culture have the same features. Having ‘Asian eyes” is a stereotype that I wish wasn’t pointed out anymore. 🙁
Mommy Gearest says
Thanks for taking the time to write. I appreciate it and I think I understand where you’re coming from. Interestingly, a Korean reader of mine agreed with my comments (via my FB page), so I think it’s all very personal and subjective. Having lived in Korea for a year, I have firsthand knowledge of the many different eye shapes of Koreans — so I hear you. But I maintain that American Girl could have done just a bit more to make the doll look less Caucasian. She still looks very “white” to me, and that’s one of the things I always appreciate about AG so much. I definitely don’t want to be offensive or insensitive and I really do appreciate your POV, but Asian eyes (which I find beautiful, by the way) have a much more distinct shape — I don’t think this is a stereotype, just a fact! You wouldn’t agree?