LEGO Ideas: 21110 Research Institute/Female Minifigure Set

[Wout]

I think this is a nice set that otherwise not easy would be made.

Athough the ancient Japanese buildings looked good too.

[badbob001]

It would be wonderful if the parts of this set could be integrated into the next modular building set. Maybe a museum would work.

[Faefrost]

While I understand your point I wouldn't necessarily agree with it. Maybe if the set was solely for girls then perhaps the set would be definined by its driving force. Instead I see this as a set that not only speaks to little girls that says they can enjoy dinosaurs and become scientists but also to boys. That girls,can enjoy the same things as they do and aspire to the same careers. I think that is important in achieving the goal of equality that the conversation is not wholly one sided. That it's just as ok for girls to play with boy minifigures as it is for boys to play with girl minifigs.

As much as I like the friends line and we have many of the sets it is a little off putting to some due to the doll like minifigs and colors of the bricks. This set eliminates thoses obstacles and does a better job to delivery the message to everyone. Both are important to overcoming inequality as there is not one magic answer. And I also feel this is a good start that can be expanded into a variety of TLG's lines.

I also agree with the name change and it does a great job of disarming the political side that can often cloud the overall message.

The core message of the set itself is fine and noble. Many of those however who jumped on the bandwagon were grievance industry shakedown types on a crusade, with a bone to pick with Lego (yeah go watch Anita Sarkeesian's video's on Lego. ) what would have happened if Lego had simply failed the set in review? Said this conflicts with the CMF's or Friends? Imagine the PC poop storm that would have raised.

I think Lego handled it perfectly. They kept in all that was good and positive about the set, while at the same time cutting the Feminist Brigade out of the picture.

Edited June 4, 2014 by Faefrost

[lightningtiger]

Point is noted, what if LEGO turned down this set idea.......and with the trouble caused over Friend's.......maybe it was chosen so it didn't cause a fire fight !

Over on Facebook, most of the feeling is positive for it.

[Darth Punk]

The core message of the set itself is fine and noble. Many of those however who jumped on the bandwagon were grievance industry shakedown types on a crusade, with a bone to pick with Lego (yeah go watch Anita Sarkeesian's video's on Lego. ) what would have happened if Lego had simply failed the set in review? Said this conflicts with the CMF's or Friends? Imagine the PC poop storm that would have raised.

I think Lego handled it perfectly. They kept in all that was good and positive about the set, while at the same time cutting the Feminist Brigade out of the picture.

My biggest problem with people like Anita Sarkeesian is they take an all or nothing approach. There is the world we want and the world we live in. Blaming toy companies seems misplaced since a great deal of choices are driven by the parents. There is a reason the pink aisles exist in places like target. Changes are not going to happen overnight and TLG seems to be moving the right direction.

Funny thing is that a few years ago a set like this probably wouldn't have gotten the support needed to pass. The friends line has garnered the attention of many who make a set like this possible and will make it successful. And that is how you create change by getting people's attention and starting a dialogue. Not by beating them over the head.

Point is noted, what if LEGO turned down this set idea.......and with the trouble caused over Friend's.......maybe it was chosen so it didn't cause a fire fight !

Over on Facebook, most of the feeling is positive for it.

I think the success of the friends line has stifled a good deal of the criticism. And I also think this is a set that was going to happen soon or later based on TLG's direction.

[Dorayaki]

As a scientist who loves to encourage his daughter's interests in math and science, I'm looking forward to this set. To be frank, however, the proposal as shown is not attractive, especially the skeleton.

Like many of you, I spend a fair amount of time in the LEGO aisle and I hear a lot of conversations between kids and parents. The notion the non Friends sets are meant for boys sometimes comes from their parents. Research Institiute can show parents and young girls that non Friends sets are meant for them.

Personally I wouldn't say this is the main goal. First of all, I suppose that TLG haven't really devoted themselves to advertising Friends along with the other themes, which wouldn't encourage girls to take a look at other LEGO products that are not Friends. Just like the change of title, I would like to focus on the scenarios of this set more than the gender marketing issue.

If attracting girls is the purpose, I guess Research Institute would have failed due to losing to Olivia's Lab, or the alternate solution is adding some scientist minifigures to Oliva's Lab. The only difference is that no minidoll characters have worn "physical" white coats so far (as I can remember, in the video game Ms Steven and Olivia got to wear coats in class).

I do think ther other two scenarios of this project are original enough to be a new product. I like the skeleton exhibitation and I hope TLG can make good redesigns.

And even though Alatariel also made some Plan B scenarios in case any of the original three scenarios didn't meet TLG's standard, now it seems like that TLG would keep all three original scenarios under the main idea of "Research".

Edited June 5, 2014 by Dorayaki

[Yooha]

I don't see how those 3 impulse set-sized scenes will come into one research Institute. But hopefully they will include all 3 of them within one -small, considering the price -building or something.

[jluck]

Really, I think most of this conversation has gotten sidetracked. The sets look great and people are excited. The fact that the 3 characters are female seems nonconsequential, just as if it had been 3 males. The sets themselves are tremindeous, creative, and likely well priced so to me, it's exactly what I'm looking for. A few new female characters are always appreciated, but I don't feel like some major statement is being made. I first saw this release on Facebook and the feedback I saw was all about the science side of things, no one even mentioned the figures were all female.

[craiggrannell]

The fact that the 3 characters are female seems nonconsequential, just as if it had been 3 males.

I imagine that's the point the creator and quite a few other people are making. This set really shouldn't be exceptional in that regard, and yet it is. Regardless of why Lego chose this set (and it's pretty clear most of the others would have been hamstrung by licensing), I'm happy it did.

I don't feel like some major statement is being made. I first saw this release on Facebook and the feedback I saw was all about the science side of things, no one even mentioned the figures were all female.

I'd say there's no big fanfare, but assuming the three figures do end up being women in the set, that is an outlier in and of itself, and the set will always have that baggage. The thing is, that baggage (such that it is) will result in news (a win), which in itself may result in extra sales (a win) or more girls buying City-based Lego (a win) or in making Lego generally feel a bit more inclusive (a win). And even if you're not of the opinion that those things are wins, for some reason, there's A. Dinosaur. Skeleton. in the set. Given that one of my clearest childhood memories is the Natural History Museum's main hall, said skeleton is all kinds of Lego win. Here's looking forward to August!

[3BrickFriends]

I think its weak for an Ideas set, but I do think it will sell well if it is priced as a £10 set.

[jfbat]

I have never seen a female fire fighter or renovation worker

No? You should come over here then. Admittedly, firemen in majority are still, well, men, but there are quite a few firewomen over here too.

As for this set: I'm interested to see how the set turns out, but chances are I won't be getting it. As for the feminist thing... I don't really think that was the intention, it was just a way of telling Lego some more female minifigs in all kinds of roles would be appreciated. And Lego is doing that already, we had that female firefighter, a businesswoman, a female garbagecancollector...

[Dorayaki]

Really, I think most of this conversation has gotten sidetracked. The sets look great and people are excited. The fact that the 3 characters are female seems nonconsequential, just as if it had been 3 males.

Well as mentioned, there have been female characters/figures doing science researches and these figures aren't that exciting to FOLs. The only thing that truly deserves praise is that this is the first LEGO Cuusoo/Ideas set to include females, despite that they're not individual characters like Dr Brown or Steve.

Among the Plan B's, I like the mechanic the most, The zookeeper is interesting in its building, but there have been CMF zookeeper and molded tigers. Firefighters are not something new in LEGO world, not even to say there are already official female firefighters in regualr sets.

Edited June 5, 2014 by Dorayaki

[emilstorm]

No? You should come over here then. Admittedly, firemen in majority are still, well, men, but there are quite a few firewomen over here too.

I know that they exist, I have seen them on TV:) i have visited almost every fire station in Copenhagen and had a lot to do with fire fighters through work and hobby, and I still haven't seen one in real life:)

Edit: there is actually a female incident commander in the Copenhagen fire department now that I think deeper, and I have seen her:)

Edited June 5, 2014 by emilstorm

[Sammael]

[Missing Brick]

Meanwhile, back in the real world: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/10608739/Boys-being-left-behind-as-university-gender-gap-widens.html

"Boys are being left behind as university gender gap widens: The number of girls seeking a UK university place this year is more than a third larger than that of boys, who university chiefs say are becoming a disadvantaged group."

"In at least 20 institutions, there are twice as many female full-time undergraduates as males. The growing divide in further education follows a similar trend at school level, where girls now outperform boys in all age groups and subjects. Last summer’s GCSE results showed a record gap, with almost 25 per cent of exams sat by girls graded A* or A, compared with less than 18 per cent among boys... The figures show that the gender gap is particularly wide among poorer households."

Personally I think TLG should include at least one male minifig in this set and stick two fingers up at the 'Millie Tant' militant feminist brigade.

[TheLazyChicken]

*snip*

Is this from the set? Or if not, where is that from? Anyways, this sounds like a good set to me, and it's cheap also!

EDIT: 1,000th post!

Edited June 6, 2014 by TheLazyChicken

[lightningtiger]

Okay, tease shot eh ?

Three bags......it's very city looking in what the bags contain.

No shots yet 'Sammael' ?

[Darth Punk]

Meanwhile, back in the real world: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/10608739/Boys-being-left-behind-as-university-gender-gap-widens.html

"Boys are being left behind as university gender gap widens: The number of girls seeking a UK university place this year is more than a third larger than that of boys, who university chiefs say are becoming a disadvantaged group."

"In at least 20 institutions, there are twice as many female full-time undergraduates as males. The growing divide in further education follows a similar trend at school level, where girls now outperform boys in all age groups and subjects. Last summer’s GCSE results showed a record gap, with almost 25 per cent of exams sat by girls graded A* or A, compared with less than 18 per cent among boys... The figures show that the gender gap is particularly wide among poorer households."

Personally I think TLG should include at least one male minifig in this set and stick two fingers up at the 'Millie Tant' militant feminist brigade.

Ok, now show the research that tells who ends up hired, where and at what pay scale. Hard to build a set when half the bricks are missing.

[Blakstone]

It also compares unlike things: who works in high tech / science fields vs who attends university. Both are real issues but I am not sure that they are linked,

I still find the controversy over equal rights for women (or any group) bizarre. How many sets either lack women or have them need rescuing vs ONE set that has three highly intelligent women working in science.

[Sammael]

No set shots yet, this is from one TLG employee's FB account.

Edited June 7, 2014 by Sammael

[Missing Brick]

Ok, now show the research that tells who ends up hired, where and at what pay scale.

That old canard? If women are under-represented in the skilled workforce it's because 80% of them sensibly choose to focus on having children and raising a family rather than devoting themselves 100% to work as most males do.

A much more serious problem in the UK is the lack of ambition and academic achievement among boys from poorer backgrounds. In the UK it's because the State is slowly taking over the role of the father due to the benefits system favouring single mothers. And of course the State makes a lousy father.

Edited June 7, 2014 by Missing Brick

[Dharkan]

I'd have made an arguement about feminism and Lego but I honestly don't think a Lego forum is the right place to do it.

Both sides of the arguement has valid points so it is wise not to protect or blame Lego or people who are critisizing Lego. It is deeper than just some toys and colors. This is a topic most of you just says "meh" when you hear about it when actually it is quite important.

[Dorayaki]

Meanwhile, back in the real world: http://www.telegraph...gap-widens.html

Personally I think TLG should include at least one male minifig in this set and stick two fingers up at the 'Millie Tant' militant feminist brigade.

I think it misses the mark. Just like saying that there are no/veryfew firefighting women on the world, we're not majorly discussing real world references. This project was meant to reflect on the fact that LEGO sets that have only male minifigures can be easily found, but those with female ones only are very, very rare (excluding girls-oriented themes). It's all about the design and illusion of products, not the real world issues. Also with that saying I think CMF series would come to an end very soon.

And "there should be more sets with both female and male figures together", it's not a bad thing but depends. For example, LEGO 60042 Police Chase made it different by adding a female criminal this year. Friends the theme also lacks boys on several occasions.

Simply ignoring feminism, if the project does bring a new variety for Town fans, it should be positive and nothing wrong anyway.

Edited June 9, 2014 by Dorayaki

[EdWebhead]

The set has been officially revealed on Alatariel's blog: http://alatarielatelier.blogspot.se/p/blog-page_26.html

I have to say, it's a cute little set!

[Fritzy]

Thanks for sharing! Looks like they did a good job with it.