Mia had a little lamb: Gender and species stereotypes in LEGO sets

Abstract

Toys are an important tool through which our culture socializes children. For example, animal figures are a type of toy through which children can learn about gender roles. In this chapter, author Debra Merskin employs intersectionality as a critical lens to analyze a selection of LEGO building sets that feature animals. She finds that while the LEGO sets in her study include boy and girl characters, the sets that target girls tend to present female characters in caretaking roles with named animals, whereas sets targeting boys present male characters in dominance roles over unnamed animals. Merskin concludes that by portraying hegemonic dynamics in their building sets, LEGO misses an opportunity to offer more gender-inclusive understandings of the occupations and roles considered culturally appropriate for boys, girls, women and men, as well as to foster children’s empathy for animals.