
Lego Movie creators Phil Lord and Christopher Miller suggested in 2014 that more female characters were needed for the movie’s sequel. “It’s important to us that the movie plays broadly and that we inspire young women as much as we inspire young men,” said Lord.
So despite the “everything is awesome” tagline, the “female issue” has managed to find its way into the Lego world, and it is attempting to close the gender gap – though it makes a small dent to the problem of stereotype-based toys. Our difference in attitudes, however, can perhaps be explained by Moore’s law, which describes the exponential growth of computing power; men are obsessed with form, technicalities and speed. “Technology to boys starts very young,” explained Dave Wallace, CEO of Heath Wallace. “It’s the very definition of a self-fulfilling prophecy; technology is male dominated, so it makes things that appeal to the male mind.” If this theory is correct then it stands to reason that we need to hit them while they’re young. And a few recent incidents highlighted that toys have a large effect on children. For example, when it comes to Lego builder kits “boys went on adventures, worked, saved people and even swam with sharks,” while female sets had figurines dressed in frilly pink dresses that “sit at home, go to the beach and shop.” The quote comes from seven-year-old Charlotte Benjamin who made a plea to Lego for more female figurines. It prompted the company to release a set of female science figures.Someone seems to be missing in Star Wars Monopoly. Unbelievable. #whereisrey pic.twitter.com/NKceWEKVbZ
— Mike Caulfield (@holden) December 22, 2015
Rey is the new pilot of the millennium falcon, but the soccer ball gets more love. Come on #StarWars #WheresRey pic.twitter.com/YK34eA3xYf
— Alex M Langenfeld (@CorporateMalice) December 29, 2015
I get it. You can’t have a Rey action figure. Some boys might let her fly an X-Wing. Next thing you know, she’s wanting to vote. #WheresRey
— Jamie Ford (@JamieFord) November 12, 2015
Read more about how an eight year old chastised the company for neglecting Rey. Share this story