Bought as a gift for nieces, Josefina is now the subject of an anti-abortion boycott by the American Family Association and the Pro-Life Action League.

Josefina replicates a New Mexico girl from 1824. She came with tiny earrings, leather moccasins and books about her adventures, in English and Spanish.

The doll was a gift of girl power. Josefina's story is how she learns to accept her mother's death and move on gracefully with her life. She was money well spent.

Preteens at the time, my nieces were soon to be bombarded with messages to be impossibly thin, to look like actresses whose imperfections are airbrushed away for magazine covers.

American Girl drew flak when it linked with Girls Inc., formerly Girls Clubs of America. The company is donating to Girls Inc. some proceeds from plastic wristlets with the motto "I Can."

The 141-year-old Girls Inc. serves mostly African-American and Latino girls from impoverished backgrounds. Programming focuses on encouraging math and science, athletics, self-respect and leadership skills.

True, the organization recognizes that some young women will struggle with the issue of sexual orientation, and that part of being a young woman is deciding what to do with your body sexually.

Never mind that Girls Inc. also stresses abstinence as the first choice for young people, that family is the primary source of information about sexuality.

But American Family Association and Pro-Life Action League seem to take a different route. Their well-intentioned lessons seem to be about telling young women what not to do. What not to think, what not to do with their lives.

The fact that contraception and the legality of abortion are acknowledged by Girls Inc. was termed "a deal breaker," by John Jensen, co-director of Pro-Life Action League's youth outreach division.

The truth is the self-esteem building programs of Girls Inc. have likely kept many girls from becoming pregnant before they were in stable marriages and able to emotionally and financially support a child.

With so many sexist and damaging images for young girls in the public realm, why focus on one thread in an organization that is doing so much good?

Strident stands come with responsibility. There is the responsibility to think through the long-term implications of your actions, the responsibility to respectfully hear the thoughts of others, even when you disagree. And finally, make sure your beliefs do not inadvertently harm others while making a point for yourself.

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