is native american playmobil approbiate? - Page 2

[mamalisa]

Originally Posted by Zach'smom

It sounds like you hit a nerve with your Mom when Dd said you found it be inappropriate.

I would probably just call her or send an Email and tell her that dd is really happy she is sending her a gift, but is not interested in the Native American set. What she would really like is the grocery store.

If your Mom sends it anyway, you could sell it on Ebay and use the money to buy the grocery store for your daughter.

People have the right to give you whatever gift they want to. BUT once it is in your home, you can do whatever you want with it!

I agree with this advice. We have some Playmobile with the "natives" dh and I mock it, because it is so ridiculous. Everyone else has boots, the natives don't have shoes. Thankfully my ds likes to think it's because they "don't have to wear shoes" because like his mama, he thinks barefoot is cool

[srain]

Playmobil toys also stereotype Vikings, medieval Europeans, and pirates for that matter.

[huggerwocky]

Originally Posted by srain

Playmobil toys also stereotype Vikings, medieval Europeans, and pirates for that matter.

Yes, but that's not a sensitive cultural issue as it is living in the U.S. or so I feel. Not only was their land stolen and native americans slaughtered in the past 100 years, there has never been been any action to compensate or even recognize the history and current state of native americans, the issue is being hushed up. So yeah, add that to the stereotyping, I'm feeling really bad about this here.

[Dechen]

Originally Posted by Roar

When my kid (and every other kid I've seen) plays Playmobil it ends up with something like a princess, a couple of contemporary looking little kids, an alligator, and a Viking together as a rock band to entertain penguins who are sitting on a firetruck or something like that.

So true.

[~member~]

Originally Posted by huggerwocky

Yes, but that's not a sensitive cultural issue as it is living in the U.S. or so I feel. Not only was their land stolen and native americans slaughtered in the past 100 years, there has never been been any action to compensate or even recognize the history and current state of native americans, the issue is being hushed up. So yeah, add that to the stereotyping, I'm feeling really bad about this here.

:
No way would they allow a "Plantation" Playmobil, with stereotyped slaves and cotton picking machines, slave owner with whips, etc. But it's okay to make play "Indians".

[chinaKat]

Originally Posted by MamaInTheBoonies

:
No way would they allow a "Plantation" Playmobil, with stereotyped slaves and cotton picking machines, slave owner with whips, etc. But it's okay to make play "Indians".

Again, I haven't seen the toy. But surely there is a difference between "Baby's First Trail of Tears Playset" and simply depicting aspects of Native American heritage?

Not saying that this Playmobil set *is* appropriate or PC or what have you (I totally get the idea that lumping all Native American peoples into one general group that lives in tipis and paddles canoes isn't accurate), but maybe the slave plantation comparison is a bit of a stretch.

[jayayenay]

Originally Posted by huggerwocky

My mom will send it from Germany, I can't exchange it. Uh, she is like that, she talks her into things making my DD believe it's her wish.

Good luck with trying to convince your mom to get the set dd really wants! I just wanted to say that you still might be able to exchange it at a local store. I have taken things to stores (that carry the item) and told them that I received it as a gift and it wasn't purchased there, but is there any way I could exchange it for something else? Many times they'll let me, especially if it's a bigger store. There's always ebay or craigslist if you're really opposed to dd keeping it.

[flyingspaghettimama]

Eh, yeah, I have to agree. I think playmobil "Indians" are just bizarre, and I would not want them for my child. It definitely goes along with the "Cowboys and Indians" trope so popular with a certain elderly, clueless generation. It's too bad, I think they're the only brown people playmobil makes.

So we're clear on what we're talking about here, they have titles like:

"Medicine Man"
"Indian Gang"
"Natives' Teepee"
"Buffalo Dancers"
"Indian squaw and her enormous brood of bloodthirsty, scalp-hungry savages" (Ok, I made that one up)

And they look just like you'd imagine a wild savage to look. http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...l%3Den%26lr%3D

Another thing to mention - I think they've discontinued the sets here in the US at least, so she couldn't add on to them in any case. I don't even see them on the German site either. Perhaps some other set that she could actually add onto? Would your mom go for the "It's not practical" approach? Seems pointless to get a set that you can't add onto.

Of course, I'll always vote for the pirates. Or the sanitation worker. He's a fun sort as well.

[chinaKat]

Originally Posted by flyingspaghettimama

"Indian squaw and her enormous brood of bloodthirsty, scalp-hungry savages"

<snicker>

OK, I'm convinced. The toy is not definitely cool. I'd eBay it if the gift giver was dead set on giving it.

I never even heard of Playmobil until this thread. Is it the descendent of the "Little People" we used to play with as kids? (You know, the school, the castle, etc.?)

[mammastar2]

No, it's a cool (at least I thought so until now) European company - the pieces are way smaller than Little People, and they do super detailed sets, dollhouses, rescue workers, etc. Hugely expensive, and I'd always coveted them (again, until now) for dd, but couldn't spring for it.

This thread has made me feel so much better...