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| Viral Photo from a 7 Year Old to Lego about gender inequality |
Dear Lego company:
My name is Charlotte. I am 7 years old and I love legos but I don’t like that there are more Lego boy people and barely any Lego girls.Way to go, Charlotte! This brings up a whole slew of thoughts for me on gender inequality when it comes to kids. Why cant girls have jobs and go on adventures? And no, I'm not singling out Lego, but the majority of toy companies out there. Seriously - who decided that girls only want to play with make-up and dolls, but boys get all kinds of awesomely fun imaginative toys? Case in point: right now, the top rated "girl's" toy on Walmart.com is the Little Tikes Cupcake Kitchen. For boys? A Wooden Activity Table with 45-Piece Train Set.
Today I went to a store and saw legos in two sections the girls pink and the boys blue. All the girls did was sit at home, go to the beach, and shop, and they had no jobs but the boys went on adventures, worked, saved people, and had jobs, even swam with sharks.
I want you to make more Lego girl people and let them go on adventures and have fun ok!?!
Thank you.
From Charlotte.
Ok, so girls are supposed to aim low? Is that what toy companies are trying to teach them? Because my girls have already been in the kitchen to help bake cupcakes. But I can bet that my son will never become a train conductor. Ya know, maybe he will - I want him to believe that he can be anything that he wants to be, but that doesn't excuse the fact that so many toy companies bring out toys that are gender specific and completely unmatched. And honestly, I feel like society is trying to push my son into being some macho superhero dude with the toys that are targeted for three year old boys. So I guess this goes both ways - what about making more nurturing toys for little guys? Why not come out with more "dolls" that teach our sons how to care for babies, instead of the newest Baby Alive only being aimed at little girls?
Playing with his sisters' dolls just might teach my son how to be more nurturing, and my baby girl just might learn that she doesn't have to be restricted in her life choices either.
Keep the girls' toys pink and the boys' toys blue. But don't restrict the type of toy just because of the audience you're targeting to.
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What are your thoughts? Do you let your kids play with toys that are designed for the opposite gender?
I am confident that a boy who plays with dolls will make an amazing father - we as a society should be so far beyond this gender silliness...sigh...
ReplyDeleteHugs,
~Crystal
That comic strip says it all. I hate when people say a boy can't play with a doll. Kids mimic what their parents do. They are learning how to be a good parent. My daughter plays with cars all the time.
ReplyDeleteThis letter has certainly gone viral! I am with you - I will let my son play with whatever he wants to!
ReplyDeleteWhen we look back at how we grew up. Just because boys didn't play with dolls and girls didn't play with GI Joe, doesn't mean they will become their counterparts. If anything it will be a sense of awareness in things that will allow them to see things opposite of what the world sees. If you allow children to think differently, they will be more aware of things when they become older. Love the insight and thank you the great post!
ReplyDeleteI saw that letter on FB too. My son has an older sister. He plays with all her toys and she plays with his. I don't think it's a big deal at all. I do know that my daughter loves the new line of Legos and NERF products though. She wanted them both for Christmas.
ReplyDeleteGive kids the freedom to be who they are. However, though it may be good in the home society will still push it's rules on our kids. I give my kids a safe place to be them while teaching them what is accepted in society. It can be a very cruel place unfortunately and balance is the key for our kids just as much as it is for us.
ReplyDeleteWow what an insightful little girl. She obviously has a bright future ahead of her!
ReplyDeleteThis is brilliant! What a clever child!
ReplyDeleteI love this!! I am so glad you are fighting gender roles and inequality. I will definitely have that same stance if I ever decide to have kids!
ReplyDeletexo Megan, Lush to Blush
I don't have kids (yet), but I do so hate the gender division of toys - all pink for girls and dark war colors for boys. My brother played Barbies with me and I played Monster trucks with him, hoping for a future where kids can play with any toys they choose
ReplyDeleteMiche from Buttons and Birdcages
I am now a married, regular woman, but as a child I hated dolls and I also hated pink. I used to think dolls were boring and pink was too bland. I loved trucks and legos, because I liked to build things and move them around. I sometimes would just make my own toys out of paper (with origami techniques) and old bottles, and had lots of fun with it. So I wouldn't be too worried if your son doesn't like playing with gender specific toys. He is just being creative and finding his way to have fun. Let him make his own choices.
ReplyDelete