An article (more of an editorial, really) at USNEWS.com, entitled “5 Reasons Not to Buy Your Daughter Pink Legos,” begins like so:
Gender segregation starts early these days, with color-coded diapers, blankets, and binkies. Most of us seem happy with this arrangement, spending some $22 billion on toys every year. But when one company recently went too far, the response was swift.
I was immediately reminded on the ONE “Cathy” cartoon I have read in the past decade (I swear.) Cathy is determined to find a gender-neutral toy for her niece. Combing through the toy store, she finally gets an idea: plastic dinosaurs! Unfortunately, they only have two kinds – Dinosaur Commando Squad and Dainty Dino Beauty Shop.
Anyway, Lego did a bunch of research, found that girls were playing with Legos, and figured they might play with them MORE if they were building little kitchens, beauty shops, etc. As a result, a petition protesting the idea went up online, and supposedly has 50K signatures.
This author lays out her case. Here are the bullets:
- Girls are already surrounded by gender stereotypes wherever they turn.
- Girls love Legos, even without the new line for girls.
- Classic children’s toys that stand the test of time are usually gender-neutral.
- Buying the new Lego line will lead to more gender-specific toys.
- Strong girl role models abound, and they don’t have to look like models.
That’s her view…what do YOU think?
(photo: classictcj.com)