Yesterday marked a nice milestone. For Lauren. 
She turned 5 yesterday and in true Cheryl form, I was out hunting for a birthday present yesterday afternoon. I hit up the usual spots- Walmart and Toys r Us. January is such a tough month for a birthday, but I always vow I will make it special for Lauren.
As I was wandering around aimlessly trying to decide if we really needed more craft supplies or another doll, I came across “Lego Friends“… Cue inner monologue now. “Cheryl… Really? Pink and purple lego. You played with lego as a kid… You like them, but is it really necessary to have pink, purple and other typically ‘girly’ coloured bricks? Not to mention what they look like they’re doing in the picture. Baking, beauty shop, etc. what gives?! And the price?! Wowzers.
(Yes, Rhea, I stole your picture… All’s fair in love and…………. Lego)
I’ve already mentioned how much I talk to Rhea on a daily basis, so obviously this very topic was brought up for debate first thing in the morning. Without coffee.
I’m often telling the girls that they can do whatever they want. There’s no such thing as ‘boy’ toys vs. ‘girl’ toys. And girls can certainly do everything boys do… Without the convenience of peeing standing up. (Although… I’m sure some girls can actually do this, I can’t!) Obviously, I googled to see if I had any backing support. This post by Jessica Gottlieb agreed with me.
I’m left wondering if I’m being ridiculous about this. I don’t like the idea of this particular Lego set being targeted to girls. Rhea posted her post on Facebook and everyone agreed with her stance. Maybe I’m trying to project my own inner tom boy on my girls since I’m not head over heels in love with pink. I find it almost degrading that they felt they needed to come up with a product like that. Sadly in 1981, it wasn’t much better. Or was it?
Traditional blocks, check… Girl looking somewhat boyish, check. Would I have had a problem with it if she were in a dress? I don’t know. I just wish instead of the “Lego Girl” products that have just launched, they could have found less female stereotypes.. I’m trying to remind my girls that they can do whatever they want, not to be pigeon holed by “traditional” girl activities.
Am I reading too much into this? Overreacting? How do you feel about those new Lego Friends?
I dont think you are reading too much into it. Most marketing is supposed to be subliminal with all ages. Not only is it Legos but girls are trained by Barbie, Cinderella, Snow White, etc from a young age to wait on Prince Charming to solve all of their problems. I wish companies would come up with new stuff as well.
Dude. You stole all my pictures! Thief! (Said with all my love <23)
You read my post on the subject, I really don't think letting girls have pink blocks is going to stunt their creativity and development into strong, successful adult women. I just don't. I think it's the parents job to encourage them to be what they are going to be…pink and purple blocks don't do that. The fact of the matter is that girls like frilly things. It's built in and Lego is just fulfilling that need.
I suggest you buy her the girly legos AND buy her a set of "boy" legos and just let her mix them up and come up with her own creations.
Rhea recently posted..LEGO Friends: Love Them or Hate Them?
I just buy the regular lego sets. If I had a girl who just loved pink, like Rhea’s niece I would buy it if she wanted it.
I don’t encourage my girls to play with dolls or like pink frilly things. Not sure how much impact this has had on them or if they are just not that into frilly things.
That said, my eldest had the lego advent calendar. She sets it up and no one is allowed to touch it. Her same age male friend’s looked like a bomb went off in lego town.
I don’t know why they need to be in sets. Why not just throw the “girly” colored bricks in the basic bin and sell them as the all in one creative set that you can build anything with, just different colors?
I don’t know how to feel about it….personally, I don’t like pink and often find myself insulted by this kind of thing. But what impact does it have on my daughter? I like to think that my strong, badass, independent self will have more impact on her than some lego does.
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I am kinda in between these. I seen Rhea’s point lol but I get your point too and it could be because I’m dealing with Oj not getting that girls can do just about everything a boy can. I agree they could be doing other things than what girls are “suppose” to do.