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Original poster

Step away from the Space Lego

41 replies

ExpectoPatronum · 10/05/2011 13:11

This is my first time on the Feminism board - I've only just found you!

This morning, DD (7) was playing with the Space Lego - lunar landscapes, spaceships, various astronauts and rocket launchers.

DS2 (5) appeared on the scene:

"No, no, sorry DD, please move away from the Space Lego, you'll only break it. Sorry, but this is a boy's toy, it's not for girls. Girls don't know about space, you'll just break it and not know how to fix it"

Shock Angry Shock Angry

I'm pleased to report that DD fought her corner. And of course, I told him that we didn't gender code toys, that she was allowed to play with it just as much as he was, that she was just as capable of rebuilding it. And I told him about women astronauts and physicists. And I pointed out that given that his sister is particularly good at numeracy and science, there was no reason why she couldn't be an astro-physicist, should she wish.

But where the hell does this attitude come from?

DH is not like this at all, and DS2 sees him cook, and clean, and iron. His grandfather is the most egalitarian left-wing 66 year old you could ever meet. How have we ended up with a chauvinist 5 year old?

Suggestions, please, of things I can do to educate him, and also things I can do to ensure DD stays confident, and strong and ambitious.

(off now to tape pictures of Pamela A. Melroy to the fridge)

OP posts:
PrinceHumperdink · 10/05/2011 18:38

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FromGirders · 10/05/2011 18:30

Random small pink girly - "I like playing Princess games"
Dd - "Leia's a princess. With a gun."

I toy with the idea of putting it on a T-shirt for her.

greencaveman · 10/05/2011 18:25

It comes from other children at school. Since DS started school, he has been telling DD what she can and can't play with. Actually it is quite helpful just having the 2 of them because he has nobody else to play with and then has to backtrack and beg DD to cooperate in the games he has made up with his "boy" toys.

belgo · 10/05/2011 18:17

There are lots of new female characters in the Lego miniseries but unfortunately they look like
this
this
and
this

It's very frustrating as my girls love Lego.

PrinceHumperdink · 10/05/2011 18:16

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MadamDeathstare · 10/05/2011 18:16

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SpringHeeledJack · 10/05/2011 18:11

fwiw my dd (7) was incensed recently leafing thro the Lego catalogue- there were hardly any female figures in it. It does look as though they're really targeting it to boys these days, imo

She was going to write them a stiff letter

but then we forgot Blush

InmaculadaConcepcion · 10/05/2011 18:00

I can't wait until DD is old enough for proper Lego. I loved it when I was a child. Me and my DSB would play with the technical set for hours.
I hope DD will go for it! She already enjoys building towers with her blocks, so it's looking good....

Continuum · 10/05/2011 17:54

ds hears sexist crap from other kids too, but dh and I have talked to him enough that he comments on things, it's constant bombardment though I think. His dilemma a few weeks ago was which group on the street to play with, the boys or the girls, because the girls were playing games he wanted to, but an older friend was also telling him girls were stupid. It was dh who dealt with it and I have since seen him play with the girls when the boys are also out.

And lego happiness! I volunteer in a school for children with emotional and behavioural problems and got to play with lego for an hour this afternoon! Was great!

PrinceHumperdink · 10/05/2011 17:14

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Original poster
ExpectoPatronum · 10/05/2011 17:13

Immaculada - good plan about the play. It can be very revealing. My other DS always opts to be Hermione in any re-enactment of Harry Potter.

OP posts:
Original poster
ExpectoPatronum · 10/05/2011 17:12

PrinceHumperdink, I'm afraid our space lego isn't really up to date! DH (who is 42, so we think he got it in about 1977) found it in the attic and dragged it out for all the children (not just the ones with penises Grin).

OP posts:
PrinceHumperdink · 10/05/2011 16:52

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InmaculadaConcepcion · 10/05/2011 15:55

Expecto how about working the issue through in play? Perhaps using the Space Lego, or even better, with an imaginary scenario where you, DS and DD are all astronauts in a spaceship having adventures, defeating hostile aliens etc.?

This book may help you with some ideas on how to go about it.

Original poster
ExpectoPatronum · 10/05/2011 13:59

I'm assuming it's school too, on the basis that he doesn't go anywhere else.

If I have the opportunity to drop it casually into conversation with his teacher, I shall do so - she's a very energetic, innovative NQT, and I think she'll be horrified!!

OP posts:
SuchProspects · 10/05/2011 13:38

Did you ask him where he got the idea from?

I would assume it's from his peers at (presumably) school. I don't know what you can do about it other than provide alternative examples and have you and, particularly, DH counter it when it comes up.

I'm really interested in hearing about other strategies. My girls will be starting at nursery in the next year and I am dreading the stereotypes I'm anticipating they'll pick up.