Q5

[butterflydreaming]

5. pastel Legos marketed at girls - good or evil?

Pastel Legos, good. Marketed at girls, not so good.

I strongly dislike the defining of gender roles. Perpetuating the idea that girls like girly things and boys like rough-and-tough things really is evil, I think, and maybe even Evil. Why can't kids just be kids? Why, when you aren't even using it yet, should your plumbing determine your wiring? Boys should be "allowed" to like pastel colors and play with dolls -- hell, they should be "allowed" to wear dresses and ribbons! And kiss boys! Girls should... be "allowed" to play soccer! And build things with tools! And kiss girls! Our gender role definitions are arbitrary, anyway, and differ from culture to culture and historic time period to historic time period.

Marketing in general also makes me itch. Don't think for me. I can think for myself. And don't encourage people to be sheep.

Comments

[laurus-nobilis.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to see I wasn't the only tree-climbing princess out there. ^_^

Seriously, though, I don't like the whole girls' toys vs. boys' toys thing. What about kids with siblings? I played all the time with my sister and my brother. It was all about the stories, and it didn't matter if we used Pirate Playmobils or Little Ponies. Usually it was both.

The worst thing? It's not only about children. Why do card decks and backgammon boards get showed off for Father's Day, but not for Mother's Day? Hmmm?