I never saw Legos as boys or girls stuff. They were just blocks to play with.

I don't have a problem with some thing being geared to one or the other. So what? It doesn't mean they can't play with either. We did, my kids did. Once it is in the toy box, it's there for every one.

lilyofcourse wrote:

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I never saw Legos as boys or girls stuff. They were just blocks to play with.

I don't have a problem with some thing being geared to one or the other. So what? It doesn't mean they can't play with either. We did, my kids did. Once it is in the toy box, it's there for every one.

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 Lily - most people don't. But the Lego company has crated Lego Friends and marketed it as "Legos for girls". The Lego Friends stuff is all pink and purple and is silly stuff like a Lego beauty salon. Lots of girls would like the Lego City series but with a few females included in the pieces. ( the City series is fire trucks, police cars, helicopters, and all kinds of public service workers -- and not a chick to be found in the pieces). 

I don't see the big deal.

I think adults make more out of it than kids ever would.

DemoniaD wrote:

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I thought the Lego Friends sets are from scenes from the show? Much like the Ninjago or Legends of Chima sets feature things from those shows? I don't think it's fair to make a comparison between a set that is tied in to a show with one that is not.


My boys have tons of legos, with both boy and girl mini figures. We even have a girl police officer and fire fighter from the City sets. Of course, all the heads get switched out to perform whatever job the boys deem necessary. Maybe it's because I am the mother of boys, but I don't see it as a huge issue.

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 I think that's the difference - if you were the mother of girls, it would be a lot different. 

 

Heck, my one daughter competed in speech and debate (obviously a co-Ed activity). She won many many trophies. Not one of them has a female on it. They are all male figures at a lecturn. Heaven forbid we bought BOTH sexes and a boy had to take home a female on his trophy! It would cause a stinking uproar! But the girls never got one trophy with a girl on them. Shelves full of trophies and not one girl. It matters. 

Oh geez. That again? Girl power and all that?

Let me ask. Did you register at 18 for the draft? Your daughters? Did you know that if a boy doesn't, and he is found out and convicted he faces a $250,000 fine and 5 years in prison.

Did you know that if he doesn't he is not eligible for any kind of federal assistance like scholarships or loans?

You want to make a big fuse over a stupid toy being or not being pink and trophies with guys on them. But what about this little bit of unequal treatment?

So sick and tired of the girl power crap.

Mellow Momma wrote:

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DemoniaD wrote:

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I thought the Lego Friends sets are from scenes from the show? Much like the Ninjago or Legends of Chima sets feature things from those shows? I don't think it's fair to make a comparison between a set that is tied in to a show with one that is not.


My boys have tons of legos, with both boy and girl mini figures. We even have a girl police officer and fire fighter from the City sets. Of course, all the heads get switched out to perform whatever job the boys deem necessary. Maybe it's because I am the mother of boys, but I don't see it as a huge issue.

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 I think that's the difference - if you were the mother of girls, it would be a lot different. 

 

Heck, my one daughter competed in speech and debate (obviously a co-Ed activity). She won many many trophies. Not one of them has a female on it. They are all male figures at a lecturn. Heaven forbid we bought BOTH sexes and a boy had to take home a female on his trophy! It would cause a stinking uproar! But the girls never got one trophy with a girl on them. Shelves full of trophies and not one girl. It matters. 

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 Maybe. I think I'd be more upset about it if there wasn't an alternative. I mean, there are all types of lego sets to choose from, and while I don't think it would hurt to include more female figures in some of the sets, they do exist. I don't see that as being uproar worthy.

For a trophy, I can understand more, because there is no alternative option given. None of the trophies my boys have won have a person on them at all though. They either have a item representing the sport/activity or a general trophy. I have seen martial arts trophies from national tournaments with a person on top, typically a male doing a flying sidekick. It's more of it being a traditional and easily recognizable image used, in that case though, not a deliberate discounting of female participants. The last trophy I personally received with a person on it was a Valedictorian trophy (8th grade)  and it was female. Not sure how I would have felt about getting one with a male at that age.

DD11 has always loved legos - Star Wars, basic sets, etc. But, she LOVES, LOVES, LOVES Lego Friends. We have a whole section of her room devoted to them. She loves the books, the TV shows, everything. And yes, she likes them because they have horses, animals with vet clinics, cafes and beauty shops. We also have jungle sets and a hot air balloon and horse sets and a camper. And that does not bother me.

I really have no problem that Lego marketed special sets to girls. They are in business to make money and Lego Friends makes money. Lots and lots of money. Don't like the sets? Don't buy them. But don't rain on everybody else's parade.

Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:

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I think the point is less that making toys that are more likely to appeal to girls is bad, and more that his as a whole could use more representation in general.

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 Why is it wrong for a girl to like pink or butterflies?  As long as you are not forcing them to choose those things, let them play with what they want.

Well. There are those who constantly go on and on about how things are not fair for girls. They don't get this or that. This isn't equal or that isn't fair.

But I don't see them registering for the draft or worrying about that glaring unequal part of life.

So I asked. If someone is going to rah rah for equality, are they willing to be completely equal? Register or face the same penalties?

Seems lop sided to me.

And yes. I do think it should required for both or not at all. Right now, it's ragingly sexist.

flan327 wrote:

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Oooh, Lily said "sexist."

Did my boys register? I have no idea.

flan

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If they have a drivers license, they registered, flan.

It's automatic. 

-- Edited by Fort Worth Mom on Monday 16th of March 2015 07:14:40 PM

Mellow Momma wrote:

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lilyofcourse wrote:

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I don't see the big deal.

I think adults make more out of it than kids ever would.

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 Kids notice. Lots of kids notice. Trust me. I worked in the toy aisle at Target for all the big holidays. The kids notice. Maybe yours didn't, but a lot of others do. 

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Of course they notice.

And toymakers perpetuating stereotypes should be a concern.

flan 

Lawyerlady wrote:

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Toymakers are in the business to sell toys, not make societal lessons. The consumers choose what toys are popular - the toymakers simply respond to that.

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Exactly.  Don't want you daughter playing with "girly" toys, don't buy them.   

flan327 wrote:

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That's fine, but it doesn't change my opinion.

flan

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 I'm really trying to understand this concept that businesses have a responsiblity to teach our children.  Isn't that the parents' job?