So there’s been a feminist uproar about the new ‘girly’ range of Lego. People have been criticising it saying that it’s sexist and it’s reinforcing gender stereotypes.
Are you fucking serious?
It’s Lego guys. Get a grip. Christ.
When I was younger, I played with Lego ALL the time. I also loved Polly Pocket, Barbie, all the other ‘girly’ stuff. So obviously I would have LOVED a more ‘girly’ Lego toy too. Wouldn’t mean that I wouldn’t still enjoy the normal one. If people are so bothered by gender stereotypes then surely they should be campaigning against all toys that are aimed at boys or girls specifically…
I hate people. There’s always a fuss over absolutely nothing.
A) one of the biggest issues I have with the yes, sexist, lego advertising for girls is that the “girls’ version” comes pre-assembled. Even without explanation, the implications of this are probably obvious. But in case they’re not, it really sends a strong if sub-conscious message to kids when the toy that was originally about creativity and building and basic architecture is still like that on the boys’ side of the store, and is pre-assembled on the girl’s side of the store. Surely as a child you did like actually making things with legos, and not just looking at them and pretending all the characters were going shopping in pink houses- yet this is exactly the implication of selling it pre-assembled. That the practice of putting it together is not important/interesting to girls, but it is to boys.
B) If you weren’t affected by the gender binarying of toys as a child, that’s great, but can you honestly tell me with a straight face that you don’t think that maybe there’s some evidence that girls are taught to play with “girly” things like dolls and barbie, and not with army people or cars, and boys are discouraged from playing with things like barbie and polly pocket, and encouraged to like things like cars and action figures? When this message is constantly repeated to children at such a young age, the forced role quickly becomes seen as a “preference.”
C) “If people are so bothered by gender stereotypes then surely they should be campaigning against all toys that are aimed at boys or girls specifically…”
People have been doing this always. Everywhere. There have been 1000 different conversations in the feminist tag alone (which is what your post showed up in). It’s not the fault of the critics if you haven’t bothered reading their critiques, because they’re certainly out there. Ignorance of evidence is not equivalent to absence of evidence.
UGH, I did not know the girls legos were preassembled. That just makes them worse. Gross. If they want to make legos pink, go for it but don’t take away making them from girls.
First of all: I do appreciate LEGO trying to expand their market (since in actuality the number of girl’s playing with legos is a lot less than boys, GEE I WONDER WHY) but I feel it would be better suited to make their toys more gender neutral or marketed to all kids, not just by expanding a line dulled down and pinked up for girls.
I really dislike the OP dismissing it as “it’s just legos. get a grip”. well guess what? LEGOs are not just legos to me. They were my favorite toy growing up, hands down. Legos were cool. You could literally build ANYTHING you wanted with them. They were the one toy my brothers and I truly bonded over. Stepping on/ Trading pieces/ Showing off our cool towers and command stations. So yea, LEGOs are a lot more to me than “just legos”. And I do have a grip: around the necks of people who think it’s okay to accept that there are girl’s toys and boys toys and the two can never intersect. Did you know that all regular legos toys are ONLY placed on shelves in the “boys section” of the toys at places like Toys R US and Walmart? And that these new “girlier versions” are to be placed ONLY in the “girls section” of toy stores? Think about that for a moment.
Here’s a really good article on the whole scenario.
P.S. Actually Lego has had bright pink legos for years but this new “for girls” collection is introducing new pastel colors like pale green and blue. Which I wouldn’t have a problem with (more colors equals more fun) if they didn’t have to limit them to just the toys marketed to girls.
for the commentary
(Source: handbuiltbyrob0ts)
