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BrotherIvan

(9,126 posts)
33. I totally agree
Fri Feb 14, 2014, 12:18 PM
Feb 2014

Not only does it separate, it also often belittles girls' activities. I just don't understand why parents still believe the superstitious nonsense that somehow if a child is interested in "girly" things they will turn out gay and that that is somehow bad. I guess as more people get to share their stories as they come out, people will understand that it's natural and you're born that way.

It's also so much about control. It's obviously getting you off to a horrible start if you think you can mould your baby's personality and make that person be who you want them to be. I see so many parents working so hard to do just that their child's whole life and it takes many years for the person to break free from that conditioning if they ever do. Kids show their personalities and proclivities instantly and yet here is mom & dad trying to make them in their own image or worse, an image of something they could never have, so they can live vicariously.

Fun is fun. Imagination, play, learning, it can come from anywhere. My friend's son loved flowers, plants and gardening. He always drew flowers at school. His father is a pretty conservative, football playing manly type. I know it disappointed him and stressed him out that his son might get teased and was not interested in the things he dreamed would happen on becoming a father. I'm really proud of how he handled it though, and rather surprised, he just let his son be who he was and helped find things the kid liked. He has grown up into the sweetest, most caring young man I've actually ever met (his express goal when going to college was finding a career "that helps people" and has chosen nursing). And believe it or not, he has girls throwing themselves at him because he is so damn nice and not like the jerk jocks at school.

So I guess this simple ad about Lego's has me thinking about lots of things. Our society is really going backward in so many ways and the rigidity of gender roles and the cartoonishness of what "men" and "women" are supposed to look like are indicators that we are not living in a period of enlightenment. I blame consumerism first and fundamentalism second, but I'm sure there's more in there. It's like we just lost our way somehow.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Awesome! shenmue Feb 2014 #1
I refuse to buy 'girl' Legos for my granddaughter. Just the regular ones. sinkingfeeling Feb 2014 #2
Same for us. Our daughter all about Cars and Jake the Pirate Duplo blocks. kysrsoze Feb 2014 #9
best thing my parents did, and they were good, they raised us as people, not gender. seabeyond Feb 2014 #20
I can't even FIND "regular ones" any more! Xithras Feb 2014 #13
We are lucky here in Chicago mikeysnot Feb 2014 #16
Fabulous! And I do believe she's right. Kids haven't changed... Triana Feb 2014 #3
Different? reusrename Feb 2014 #4
? Bernardo de La Paz Feb 2014 #7
Sorry, it's from the ad. reusrename Feb 2014 #14
? Bernardo de La Paz Feb 2014 #17
That's it, the objectification in the new Lego campaign. reusrename Feb 2014 #23
Thanks. I agree with you about the objectificatiion in the new Lego object. Bernardo de La Paz Feb 2014 #24
Both the author and the subject seem very accomplished. reusrename Feb 2014 #25
Actually LEGO had been using gender specific marketing before this as well. progressoid Feb 2014 #5
they are not color coordinated though, ya, get your point. why would we become MORE seabeyond Feb 2014 #21
Agreed. It's much more extreme. progressoid Feb 2014 #27
In The Fifties "engineering" for kids was a non color issue grilled onions Feb 2014 #6
Amen. Hope it goes back to that. kysrsoze Feb 2014 #10
i was so excited to find the old lincoln logs and got for 4 yr old nephew. seabeyond Feb 2014 #22
hate to crash the party, but i can't read this site from my college campus alp227 Feb 2014 #8
Thanks for the warning. I am scanning my computer right now. JDPriestly Feb 2014 #12
scanned that URL, no problems. alp227 Feb 2014 #19
I scanned too and it was fine. JDPriestly Feb 2014 #26
What is this with all these pink toys for girls? JDPriestly Feb 2014 #11
Not only is the "girl's Lego" demeaning in color and horrific glowing Feb 2014 #15
made it to here, full stop seabeyond Feb 2014 #18
The same holds true for boys BrotherIvan Feb 2014 #28
i can't stand it when people tell a boy "that's for girls" JI7 Feb 2014 #29
My 23 year old son still enjoys pedis and sparkly pink toenails. JTFrog Feb 2014 #30
Nice! ismnotwasm Feb 2014 #32
I totally agree BrotherIvan Feb 2014 #33
Legos ismnotwasm Feb 2014 #31
As a parent, I find this gendering of toys as disturbing as well Nikia Feb 2014 #34
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