LEGO: Promoting gender equality since the '70s

LEGO spaceship sets are also for girls, and LEGO doll house sets are also for boys.

 

The toy brick maker relayed this powerful message in a letter to parents as early as the 1970s, where it said the urge to create is "equally strong" in all children.

 

Speaking to UK's i100.co.uk, LEGO UK and Ireland's Emma Owen confirmed the authenticity of the letter, which was part of a pamphlet dating back 40 years ago.

 

"The text remains relevant to this day – our focus has always been, and remains to bring creative play experiences to all children in the world, based on the Lego brick and the Lego system – ultimately enabling children to build and create whatever they can imagine," she said.

 

An image of the 1974 letter had gone viral last weekend. It was first posted on Reddit.

 

In the 1970s letter, LEGO told parents that "(t)he urge to create is equally strong in all children. Boys and girls."

 

LEGO stresssed it is imagination that counts, and not skill.

 

"A lot of boys like dolls houses. They’re more human than spaceships. A lot of girls prefer spaceships. They’re more exciting than dolls houses... The most important thing is to put the right material in their hands and let them create whatever appeals to them," it said. — Joel Locsin/TJD, GMA News