Lego “Friends” Causes Uproar

COMMENTARY | When Lego released the “Friends” line for girls, they had no idea of the monsoon building in its wake. Since its release, eating and body disorder specialist Carolyn Costin has created an online petition to raise awareness and convince Lego to halt production of the “Friends” line. Costin and company claim Lego has always manufactured gender-neutral toys, until now. For Costin, Lego pushing non-gender neutral toys is a big problem.

Has Lego always been gender neutral?

I do not think anyone could argue that Legos have been more boy-oriented than girl-oriented since their manufacturing line inauguration. Constructing a Death Star or the Castle of Gray Skull were traditionally boy-oriented activities. Parents and activists did not have a problem with that, until now.

Are gender-neutral toys that important?

It depends whom you ask. Costin says girls should not be programmed and relegated into a gender-oppressed role and she claims these toys do just that. Part of Costin’s petition reads, “We are horrified and outraged to see how the ‘Friends’ line for girls promotes damaging gender stereotypes and limits creativity and healthy role development. For starters presenting slimmer, more fashion oriented LEGO people for girls falls right into the pervasive cultural messages for them to focus solely on their appearance and being thin.”

Does that mean parents should hoist the Easy Bake Ovens, Disney Princess Dress up Trunks and Barbie dolls into the garbage truck on collection day? Historically toys have been toys and kids and have been kids. I have yet to see any evidence supporting major psychological damage being done to girls that played with Barbie dolls and boys who created Lego Death Stars in their formative years.

The bottom line

Boys and girls are hard coded differently. If you do not believe me, go look at a fashion magazine versus any men’s magazine. Just because women are more interested in buying crock-pot recipes versus a muscle car digest does not signify gender oppression. Gender differences drive us to unite and become stronger as a single, conjoined unit. Why not celebrate that differentiation instead of pushing it under the playroom rug?

Perhaps Pepe McAlister said it best when she visited the petition’s website and wrote, “If you do not like this product, then do not buy it. It is a parent’s job to teach their children what they expect of them, do not blame Lego for your failures and insecurities.”


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