Papo Figurines
Is anyone else here familiar with Papo figurines? They are a French company that makes neat little toys, many of them fantasy- and history-based. I fell in love with them a few years back when I found their female pirate figure at a toystore, and have bought several more since then. Yesterday, I bought the female farmer and the (discontinued) farmer's wife. I think they will make a nice couple.
I like them because they look nice, are durable, and don't cost much. Unfortunately, it seems like their female action figures keep getting discontinued. I went through their current catalogue tonight, out of curiosity, and I was disappointed by what I found. Out of around 200 human or humanoid figurines, 92 are white and male, 60 are white and female (overwhelmingly fairies and/or princesses), and only 6 are people of colour (5 male, 1 female). There are also about 30 more helmeted knights without visible faces who are clearly male, and given the style, would be coded as white as well. Disappointing.
Non-fairy/princessish female figurines:
- 6 equestrian girls
- 4 historical figures (Cleopatra, Joan of Arc, Elizabeth I, Marie Antoinette)
- 2 farmers
- 2 pirates (a bit more sexed up than their previous model)
- 1 fantasy warrior (without ridiculously sexy armour! Yay!)
- 1 (fat and ugly) witch
The catalogue also features prehistoric hunters (no women), knights and archers (no women), firefighters and paramedics (no women), and a collection of sci-fi warriors (no women).
I love the Papo figurines I have. I want more and I want to love this company, but I feel like it's failing at diversity in its toy line. I want fun toys for my niece and nephew when they visit, and I want them to have examples of women who are about more than just looking pretty. Is that so much to ask?
I like them because they look nice, are durable, and don't cost much. Unfortunately, it seems like their female action figures keep getting discontinued. I went through their current catalogue tonight, out of curiosity, and I was disappointed by what I found. Out of around 200 human or humanoid figurines, 92 are white and male, 60 are white and female (overwhelmingly fairies and/or princesses), and only 6 are people of colour (5 male, 1 female). There are also about 30 more helmeted knights without visible faces who are clearly male, and given the style, would be coded as white as well. Disappointing.
Non-fairy/princessish female figurines:
- 6 equestrian girls
- 4 historical figures (Cleopatra, Joan of Arc, Elizabeth I, Marie Antoinette)
- 2 farmers
- 2 pirates (a bit more sexed up than their previous model)
- 1 fantasy warrior (without ridiculously sexy armour! Yay!)
- 1 (fat and ugly) witch
The catalogue also features prehistoric hunters (no women), knights and archers (no women), firefighters and paramedics (no women), and a collection of sci-fi warriors (no women).
I love the Papo figurines I have. I want more and I want to love this company, but I feel like it's failing at diversity in its toy line. I want fun toys for my niece and nephew when they visit, and I want them to have examples of women who are about more than just looking pretty. Is that so much to ask?