Relation between LEGO and gender

LEGO is a really profitable company. Their toys are what most of the kids of a few generations have played with. LEGO is also proved to accelerate a child's development and also supports in developing parts of the brain that are closely related to the science-related major. The struggle with lego appeared when they started to change the way figures looked like. The male figures started for example to have facial hair and female figures would have long lashes. Also, the outfits of the figures changed dramatically. With years there was a spike in new figures being presented after the year 2000. Although different faces were introduced already earlier.
Also, the marketing strategy has changed. From a toy designed for both girls and boys to that being target mostly to boys - only 18 out of 160 have had feminine characteristics. Since LEGO was criticized for its gender gap, it created a new version that oppositely was filled with feminine features. The thing is that the 'boys' and 'girls' versions differ significantly. The female version also got 'upgraded' figures with 'cute' clothes, big eyes, and slim bodies. Male figures didn't go under any specific changes besides introducing a wider variety of emotions and professions. Not only figures differed itself (the male version was filled with figures representing heroes, police officers, etc.) but also the whole LEGO world of each collection was significantly different. The male version would be designed with non-bright colors while female version would be mostly in pink and purple. Also, the facilities differed dramatically. All of it puts somehow a limit on both genders and their perception of what they can pursue in life.

Did you, as a kid notice any differences between the toys you were playing? Did you feel limitations with what you're "supposed" to be playing with?

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