Slap that Sassy Pink?

Give it a poke, that prissy pink? Pitch it out the door.

Just select neutral Gray. Ugh. Drab. The color of cold hard concrete, dense dripping fog, and thunderous clouds.

Pink is boxed in

What about white – if you have to choose just one.

So open-ended: Shiny plastic white reflects rainbow hues. You could build a dream and color it with imagination. No? That would offend? Some would interpret it oddly like a preference for everything white? Suggests prejudice? Oh, don’t want that.

What about all black then?

Rich. Mysterious. Solid. A high contrast standout among riotously colored environments. Sleek, sharp, and modern. No, too dark? It would invite controversy? Just too political? Oh, don’t want that.

Then, maybe, brown?

A basic color of earth. Grounded. A rich muddy soup. Power to grow. No? Too much like dirt? A selection, too poor? And fans of white and black would both object?

Oh, this is getting difficult. Can’t differences and opinions just be shelved for a while?

All that’s wanted is play!

Keep sunny Yellow – wait ’til I finish before building objections! 

Yellow, blue, and red – the primary colors.

Bright colors! Simple.

Bright Legos ready and waiting. (image from WIKI)

Just like Legos.

Simple and just plain fun.

And as a bonus, Legos do double duty as a home intruder alarm system on a dark night.

(You have stepped on one with bare feet? Case closed).

Unfortunately some new Legos are stacking up to a real controversy.

Are they sexist?

After 4 years of market research, the Lego company designed to new line, Lego Friends, to especially appeal to girls. Redesigned Lego people look more like girls and have names. And the play sets include a beauty shop, a cafe, and pink blocks. Apparently a big problem for some.

Really? Because pink blocks and these new sets are targeted towards girls?

So it’s OK to have all those forts, pirate ships, castles, farm sets, and Star Wars Legos sets with all the black, brown, and gray blocks? These are traditional “boy” themes. Commercials are created to appeal to boys. Yet, the sets are popular birthday gifts for both boys and girls.

Still if some pink legos can prompt some frilly mom to buy Legos for her daughter – Great.

If it means putting down the Bratz doll and to build something, anything- Success! If it means actively thinking about how to make something work and building using her own mental blueprint rather than pushing Barbie around in a purchased molded plastic car to a fancy already-made and furnished Barbie Dream House – Winner! If it means learning to hypothesize, use trial and error, improve fine motor skills, and verbalize (either in frustration or wild joy) – Wonderful! If it means interaction within a group: sharing, collaborating, compromising, and cooperating – Spectacular! If these little pink Lego blocks never build what is pictured on the box – Outstanding.

Lego plans ( image from WIKI)

Once again, so all the ruckus is clear to me:

Rough housing marketing targeting boys is ok, but marketing targeting girls, not OK ? (Ignore all those Princess parties. Disney, are you there?)

Using masculine colors in toys is OK. but pinks, roses, pastels, and colors associated with feminine whims in toys, not OK? (Not even on tiny fingernails, stuffed unicorns, or Barbie homes and cars?)

And if you’re a “concerned” parent and you don’t like the new “girl-people”, couldn’t you quietly pitch them?  Don’t bring the cutsey box in the house – buy a bin instead? Just Turn off the silly giggly commercials? (Only distracting noise anyway.)

OK. I guess I got it. But do you mind if we continue this later?

I’ve got a lead on some garage sale Legos around the corner.

You can never have enough. Come back and you can play with some. But not the square 4-bump yellow ones – the building’s porch’s colonnades are almost done. But I could really use something to make a pink granite facade…..

With no frills included,

Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge.

More to explore:

• Lego Friends Official Website
• NPR ( broadcast and article): “Gender Controversy Stacks Up Against Lego Friends” Interview by Michel Martin with Bailey Shoemaker Richards,(sponsor of a petition on Change.org about the new Lego line)
• Huffington Post. (Video, picture, article) “Lego Friends Petition: Parents, Women, and Girls ask Toy Companies to Stop Gender-based Marketing”
• Kiwi Commons. (article)  “The Big Stink Over Lego For Girls”  Parents give their views
• KSDK TV news (video) “Lego Line for Girls Under Fire”  Girls as well as adults talk in video about the new Legos.
• Yahoo News (article) “Feminists are Anti-Choice”   Linda Chavez gives her views on the controversy.
•  Psychology Today. (article by Polly Palumbo, Ph.D) “Occupying the Toy Aisle, One Pink Lego at a Time”
• Seattle Times (article). “New Legos aimed at girls raise questions about gender and play”
• Book by author Baichtal and Meno.Cult of Lego. (Amazing book…can we just have fun now?)

---

Discover more from Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge

Subscribe to get the latest posts to your email.