Lately I’ve been hearing a lot of complaining about Lego’s new sets for girls. So I went and checked them out. They’re pretty, pink and purple Lego houses, beauty parlours and ice cream shops, decorated with flowers and butterflies. My daughter is 10-years-old and I can honestly say that this is the first time she’s actually asked me to buy her a Lego set. And it’s all because they introduced “girl” Lego.
I am—by all accounts—a modern woman and I consider myself a feminist. But I really don’t understand the fuss about this new Lego. If a girl doesn’t like a pink Lego town with flowers all over it, she can always get the primary coloured Lego city or grey and black Star Wars package. No one is telling her not to buy the other sets. Girl Lego just offers another option. There are, after all, “girly girls” like my daughter who have no interest in Star Wars and who would rather be surrounded with purple butterflies.
I hate to break it to the world but it’s usually women who care about what the house looks like and who go to the spa. It’s mostly women who enjoy the malls and like pretty things. It’s a girly world in many ways. What’s so wrong with showing this side of society in a Lego toy?
Lego is a great tool to help children practice their fine motor skills. If a Lego set is in pastel rather than primary colours, and is about a picnic instead of jet fighting, what does it really matter?
To all the people who are complaining about girl Lego, I say, join “Because I am a Girl” and find out more productive ways in which to help young women. The website is pink, though; I hope that’s not considered sexist.
Printer-friendly version