Re: Toys and gender (More)

IWalcott@aol.com
Wed, 23 Oct 1996 18:59:02 -0400


It's absolutely true that perpetuating gender stereotypes is in the best
interests of companies. I have a survey up on the web about girls' interests
and I've gotten nearly 1,000 responses from teenage girls, a large portion of
which yearn for computer games about makeovers, shopping, and cheerleading.
It's what the girls *WANT*, although this desire is clearly guided by the
media and the parents.

I tried posting my question earlier but I never saw it show up: is it worth
while to use the pink and lavender, girl-stereotype marketing, to sell
computer games for girls that get them to be more tech-savvy and comfortable
with computing? Perhaps it is worth making pastel legos to get more girls
thinking spatially and building and constructing instead of only playing with
dolls.

As I design computer games for girls, I ask myself this question on a daily
basis. My take is, the girls who aren't stuck in the "hairspray and nail
polish" rut don't need me to turn them on to technology. The ones who need
the additional skills are precisely the ones who would be attracted by pink
and lavender.

What do other people feel about this issue? I'd love to get some adult
feedback.

Thanks,
Isabel Walcott


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