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Well, the page on the "Lego friends"site: http://friends.lego.com/en-us/products/41027-mias-lemonade-stand http://friends.lego.com/en-us/products/41027-mias-lem

by hrktb 13y ago

Well, the page on the "Lego friends"site: http://friends.lego.com/en-us/products/41027-mias-lemonade-stand http://friends.lego.com/en-us/products/41027-mias-lemonade-s... I don't see fire fighters or policemen or construction staff, so her statement (and other peoples argument) is valid. How to interpret this fact can be tricky, because there's still more variety than traditional 'girly' toys I think, but when contrasting this with the "City" line of toys (http://www.lego.com/en-us/city http://www.lego.com/en-us/city), the gender bias is blinding.

SamuelMulder 13y ago
The Lego Friends theme doesn't have firefighters because it is focused on social relationships, not overcoming conflict. It doesn't have to be a girl vs boy thing (although it is undoubtedly targeted toward girls to compete with other non--confrontational toys that have proved popular with girls), it is just part of the theme. Ninjago doesn't have firefighters either. I think it is great that Lego has developed a theme that isn't focused on physical confrontation. I have three girls who play with Lego and they request a mix of sets. For Christmas, they requested sets from Friends, Lord of the Rings, and Ninjago. My four year old got a Chima set. They don't see it as a girl vs boy thing.
- hrktb 13y ago
  I'm not convinced on the marketing part. How is a lifeguard post or a ranch more social and less conflicting than firefighters or construction workers ? Now, if I was heavily into buying Lego bricks, I'd also mix from the different sets to have more situations, and my kid doesn't really care if his toys are action figures or dolls.
  - facepalm 13y ago
    I don't think "social" is the selling point. If I just look at "all buildings", only very few of them seem to be about actual work. It's more about having fun in exclusive locations with loving animals.
talmand 13y ago
How about buying the fire fighter set, if the girls want it, and just don't mention boy sets versus girl sets? You know what "traditional" girl toys are? What previous generations, or "parents", say they are.
facepalm 13y ago
How is that a valid criticism? It doesn't have firefighters because it is about other things. It's valid in the same way as complaining that a set about fire fighters doesn't have any police men. Please show me what makes the actual firefighters and policemen "male"? I see some figurines with beards, but many without beards - they could be any gender. Also never mind the fact that including many female fire fighters would be a lie, because the real world isn't really like that.

by hrktb 13y ago

SamuelMulder 13y ago

The Lego Friends theme doesn't have firefighters because it is focused on social relationships, not overcoming conflict. It doesn't have to be a girl vs boy thing (although it is undoubtedly targeted toward girls to compete with other non--confrontational toys that have proved popular with girls), it is just part of the theme. Ninjago doesn't have firefighters either. I think it is great that Lego has developed a theme that isn't focused on physical confrontation. I have three girls who play with Lego and they request a mix of sets. For Christmas, they requested sets from Friends, Lord of the Rings, and Ninjago. My four year old got a Chima set. They don't see it as a girl vs boy thing.

hrktb 13y ago
I'm not convinced on the marketing part. How is a lifeguard post or a ranch more social and less conflicting than firefighters or construction workers ? Now, if I was heavily into buying Lego bricks, I'd also mix from the different sets to have more situations, and my kid doesn't really care if his toys are action figures or dolls.
- facepalm 13y ago
  I don't think "social" is the selling point. If I just look at "all buildings", only very few of them seem to be about actual work. It's more about having fun in exclusive locations with loving animals.

talmand 13y ago

How about buying the fire fighter set, if the girls want it, and just don't mention boy sets versus girl sets? You know what "traditional" girl toys are? What previous generations, or "parents", say they are.

facepalm 13y ago

How is that a valid criticism? It doesn't have firefighters because it is about other things. It's valid in the same way as complaining that a set about fire fighters doesn't have any police men. Please show me what makes the actual firefighters and policemen "male"? I see some figurines with beards, but many without beards - they could be any gender. Also never mind the fact that including many female fire fighters would be a lie, because the real world isn't really like that.