With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Scandal in Fun Town: Legoland Is Full of Sexist Propaganda!
Photo by Lonnon Foster via Flickr
()
Taking the kids to a theme park is supposed to be an indulgent day of fun flights of fancy, where make believe lets the little ones (and the young at heart) escape for a few hours. But at Legoland, one of the San Diego area's most popular destinations, something is perhaps afoul in Fun Town and elsewhere in the theme park based on everyone's favorite interlocking plastic bricks.Apparently, Legoland is a world where women are depicted unfairly, stereotypically, or downright insultingly. One parent has raised the cries of sexism on a site called Pigtail Pals, describing a recent visit to the theme park:
"The shows we saw have not one respectable female character (they manage to portray even cleopat…ra like a kardashian sister). Their kids meals and collectible cups come in pink or blue. The blue ones have several lego characters (ninjas, pirates, etc) on one side and a huge pirate ship scene on the other. The pink ones have 3 “sassy” looking girls (not lego figures) on both sides. They’re not doing anything, or supposed to be anything. They’re just standing there with big doey eyes being,……I don’t know……..”cool” girls, I guess? And then there’s still this. In fun town (which was pretty fun before I saw this), there are two life size characters built entirely from legos. there’s a male police officer and a female firefighter. Cool, right? Except the man is talking into his walkie talkie, while the woman is………wait for it…….not putting out a fire, but……….putting on lipstick!!! WTH???"
WTH indeed! Why isn't the firefighter holding a hose or rescuing a baby, dammit?
Accusations of sexism at Legoland and in Lego products has become more common recently. Last year the company released a line called Lego Friends, which are products targeted at young girls. However, the line suffered tremendous backlash from consumers and pundits who believed the products weren't actual Lego manipulatives, but just regular "girls toys" that could have come from any toymaker--there was no construction involved.
Support for LAist comes from
But are Legos primarily a boy's toy? Some argue that the creation of the "not for boys" Lego Friends line drives home the assumption that regular Lego products are designed for boys.
Others, however, believe that Lego should not market exclusively to girls at all, because they want their daughters to be exposed to the engineering constructs of Legos as-is. One parent writes on the Legoland Facebook page: "Keep ultra-femininity out of the wonderful world of Legos please. We are a 3 generation household of Legos and want Science and Engineering to lead our daughters onward, not old world concepts."
Okay, so back to the theme park.
In 2008 one blogger "ranted" about the sexist "gap" at Legoland (though he, too, believes Legos are made for boys):
The thing is, Legoland suits all different age ranges but in specific striations, if I'm allowed to use that word. Or perhaps 'niches'. For the 4 to 6 year old girl, there's plenty to keep them amused that doesn't require huge queueing. For the 12 to 20 year old teenage girl, the more sensational rides will be more attractive and they'll have the patience to queue for them. Yet for boys, Legoland works from 4 to 20 years old with no gaps. I guess that's part of the nature of the beast - Lego being a boys toy etc. But it also reflects the way girls tend to be scared of anything remotely dangerous, while boys will 'enjoy' being scared.
This 2-part video from FeministFrequency takes a look at Lego and gender:
Support for LAist comes from
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The City Council will vote Tuesday on a proposal to study raising the pay for construction workers on apartments with at least 10 units and up to 85 feet high. -
The study found recipients spent nearly all the money on basic needs like food and transportation, not drugs or alcohol. -
Kevin Lee's Tokyo Noir has become one of the top spots for craft-inspired cocktails. -
A tort claim obtained by LAist via a public records request alleges the Anaheim procurement department lacks basic contracting procedures and oversight. -
Flauta, taquito, tacos dorados? Whatever they’re called, they’re golden, crispy and delicious. -
If California redistricts, the conservative beach town that banned LGBTQ Pride flags on city property would get a gay, progressive Democrat in Congress.
Best of LAist