William's Doll

"William's Doll" is a 1972 children's picture book by Charlotte Zolotow about a boy who wants a doll even though dolls typically are considered a toy only for girls. His father, uncomfortable with William's request, tries giving William toys the father considers more gender-appropriate, such as a basketball and a train set; while William enjoys these toys, he continues to ask for a doll. Eventually, the boy's grandmother fulfills the request, explaining to the father that William will use the doll to practice being a good father.

Zolotow has explained that although she is a feminist and appreciates that many feminists enjoyed the book's message, her inspiration was more from personal observations about her husband's early attempts to bond with the couple's son, Stephen, and about how men of the time period missed out on some of the pleasures of being closely involved with their children's development. [http://www.charlottezolotow.com/willilams_doll.htm Charlotte Zolotow on the origins of "William's Doll"] , charlottezolotow.com (retrieved June 1, 2007)]

The book often is used in the United States for lessons on gender roles, stereotypes, or general anti-bias education. (See, for example, Ellen A. Greever, Patricia Austin, and Karyn Welhousen, "'William's Doll' Revisited," "Language Arts", 77(4), 324-30, March 2000, for a journal article on a study comparing reactions of fourth-grade students in 1975 and in 2000.)

Adaptations

A song based on the story, with lyrics by Mary Rodgers and music by Sheldon Harnick, was included in the best-selling "Free to Be... You and Me" children's album and songbook in 1972, where it was sung by Alan Alda and Marlo Thomas. (This same song was sung by B. D. Wong at the Ms. Foundation's 15th Annual Gloria Awards ceremony in 2003, where Marlo Thomas and former Ms. Foundation president Letty Cottin Pogrebin received the Creative Philanthropy Award for the album's creation. [http://www.mencanstoprape.org/info-url2699/info-url_show.htm?doc_id=170569 "Yoko Ono Presents Award"] (undated article, retrieved June 1, 2007)] )

When "Free to Be... You and Me" became a television special in 1974, ABC asked producer Marlo Thomas to make two changes to the material, one of which involved the Zolotow story:

"William's Doll" also became a film in 1981.2nd ref]

Notes