London ( CNN ) -- When LEGO released a set of figures collectively called the Research Institute -- featuring a scientist , astronomer and a palaeontologist -- it sold out worldwide within a few days . Why the fuss about a few tiny plastic people ? Because they are all female professionals . Previously , LEGO fans could only create professional females by building them out of existing parts . The only female figures supplied by LEGO fed into traditional stereotypes : Women hanging around the house , going to the beach or playing with pets . But then in January seven year old Charlotte Benjamin penned a letter that went viral , criticizing the company for the lack of professional female LEGO figures . `` All the girls did was sit at home , go to the beach , and shop , and they had no jobs but the boys went on adventures , worked , saved people , and had jobs , even swam with sharks , '' she wrote . This month , Charlotte got her researchers -- although LEGO said it was already developing the new female figures at the time of the letter . Scientist Ellen Koojiman first submitted the idea for all-female LEGO set to the company 's website on 2012 . She managed to get 10,000 supporters for her proposal , which was eventually turned into the new product by LEGO . `` As a female scientist I had noticed two things about the available LEGO sets : a skewed male/female minifigure ratio and a rather stereotypical representation of the available female figures , '' she wrote in the pitch . LEGO is now the world 's top toy maker , after overtaking Mattel , the maker of Barbie . Its chief executive , Jorgen Vig Knudstorp , told CNN the company wants to expand in Asia and was eyeing markets such as China . `` The idea of the LEGO brand resonates really well with the Chinese consumers , '' Knudstorp said . `` They are highly focused on creativity , learning , education , and at the same time recognize that learning trough play is a unique way of learning , which is in many ways much more powerful , '' he added . LEGO has targeted the female market before , with its LEGO Friends set designed for young girls released in December 2011 . The set , which revolved around close friends and featured a bakery , pet salon and juice bar , was criticized for pandering to gender stereotypes . Read more : Can 'The LEGO Movie ' really be THAT good ?
Marvel 's new line of sets called Jurassic Park sold out worldwide within a few days . It features female scientist , an archaeologist and a scientist complete with a dinosaur . Previous sets targeted at girls featured professional female characters .