When seven-year-old Charlotte Benjamin visited a toy story recently, she left discouraged and frustrated. She noticed that the “LEGO girl people” spend their time shopping and going to the beach, whereas the boy LEGO figures are heroes and have jobs. Instead of pouting or complaining to her parents, she wrote a strongly worded letter to the company.
Here’s the text of the letter:
Dear Lego company:
My name is Charlotte. I am 7 years old and I love legos but I don’t like that there are more Lego boy people and barely any Lego girls.
Today I went to a store and saw legos in two sections the girls pink and the boys blue. All the girls did was sit at home, go to the beach, and shop, and they had no jobs but the boys went on adventures, worked, saved people, and had jobs, even swam with sharks.
I want you to make more Lego girl people and let them go on adventures and have fun ok!?!
Thank you.
From Charlotte.
To the company’s credit, they’re making an effort. They recently introduced a new scientist “LEGO girl” named Professor C. Bodin, a “Nobrick Prize” winner. Emma Owen, a LEGO U.K. spokeswoman, says that LEGO “has a variety of mini-figures in our assortment” and that they appreciate the input they receive from children.
?Children all over the world reach out to us after playing with our products, and give us positive feedback and suggestions for ways to improve. We reply to all consumers who reach out to us, and this answer is between us and the consumer unless the consumer decides to share our response, of course.
In general, we believe that LEGO play appeals to children of both genders and all ages. Building with LEGO bricks fosters the creativity of children which is why it’s our mission to offer any child — regardless of their age, gender or interests — a relevant LEGO play experience.”
Image via Today.com
Here is an in-store video ad from LEGO:
