#MissRep

Submit pictures or videos of media misrepresentations or your own empowering and inspiring images below.
Yesterday, I came across this story on NPR about Lego’s attempt to “build their girls market.” They’ve created a new line of toys called “Lego Friends” that feature “girl” legos, such as the one in this article (“Olivia”), wearing tank tops and mini skirts. The minifigures are built to hold hairbrushes and handbags, they’re designed in pastels, and one of their building sets is a hairdressing salon.While I applaud Lego for recognizing that girls like to build just as much as boys, perpetuating traditional gender stereotypes is NOT the solution to expanding their market. Create “girl” minifigures, sure, but why not make them astronauts or crime fighters (dressed in practical clothing for the job)? Or how about rock-climbers or world travelers on safari?A company of such popularity has great potential to defy patriarchal gender norms, rather than promote them. Nice try, Lego, but until you create “girl” legos that don’t endorse traditional femininity, I’m not buying them.Susie Barr-WilsonSan Francisco, CA

Yesterday, I came across this story on NPR about Lego’s attempt to “build their girls market.” They’ve created a new line of toys called “Lego Friends” that feature “girl” legos, such as the one in this article (“Olivia”), wearing tank tops and mini skirts. The minifigures are built to hold hairbrushes and handbags, they’re designed in pastels, and one of their building sets is a hairdressing salon.

While I applaud Lego for recognizing that girls like to build just as much as boys, perpetuating traditional gender stereotypes is NOT the solution to expanding their market. Create “girl” minifigures, sure, but why not make them astronauts or crime fighters (dressed in practical clothing for the job)? Or how about rock-climbers or world travelers on safari?

A company of such popularity has great potential to defy patriarchal gender norms, rather than promote them. Nice try, Lego, but until you create “girl” legos that don’t endorse traditional femininity, I’m not buying them.

Susie Barr-Wilson
San Francisco, CA

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  5. rachelpiazza said: When I first heard this, it sounded like a good idea. But now that I see this picture and description, I’m so disappointed. What crap!
  6. jess1023 reblogged this from missrep and added:
    Touche. My younger sister loves lego...she puts their heads
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  15. Susie Barr-Wilson submitted this to missrep