You are currently browsing the monthly archive for March 2010.
This article discusses how girls are giving up dolls at younger and younger ages in favor of online play. So, what do the toy manufacterers do in response? Connect the dolls to the computer. First, we have Dora Links with the tweeny looking Dora that expands her appeal to 6 and yes, even 7 year old girls.
Next, Barbie Video Girl. 
A video camera stuck in Barbie’s chest? Yeah, well, whatever.
Now from the article: “Lindsey Peppel, 12, of Phoenixville hasn’t played with the fashionable figures for a while, instead favoring online sites, including Barbie.com, and Barbie video games (when she’s not reading books).” Yay, she’s reading books, too! But, as you see it’s not as if Barbie is going away, she’s just going online.
“I don’t think I’m good at making up imaginary things,” she said. “I didn’t know what to do with dolls.” This makes me kinda sad. But it’s the new reality, I suppose. According to, “Consumer psychologist Kit Yarrow, who chairs the psychology department at Golden Gate University and wrote the book Gen BuY, agrees that children nowadays need lots of stimulation to keep their interest.”
Is it all bad? ”Maybe,” she argued, “this is preparation for exactly what they need when they grow up. The world these kids are going to be adults in is more souped up.”
A bit more frightening is the rate with which girls are being made to grow up. ”After all, 5 is the new 10, and 10 is the new 15.” Ick.
“Often tweens are pushed to act and look like teens, whether that message comes from the latest Hannah Montana TV shows, outfits at the Limited Too, or virtual playlands. Playing with dollies has little place in this world.”
And the effect? “Transforming the lives of girls to the detriment of self-esteem, with its emphasis on idealized images of beauty.” Seventeen magazine your new readers await.
Anyways…Integrating technology into girls’ lives at a younger age could be a good thing. It takes the foreigness out of technology, but why does it all have to be shrouded in unrealistic, idealized images of girls and women? Because that’s what sells. Yes, I know.
This, my friends, is the perfect marriage of technology and knitting. Computational textiles! And it was designed by a student at IU!
Yes, I will be making my very own Know it All bag. Soon. Another use of the LilyPad: A dress that monitors carbon dioxide in the air. Super awesome.
I decided to look into computational textiles and wearable technology a bit more. Because it’s awesome. Check out this video about the wearable technology artist, Syuzi Pakhchyan.
I also ran across this British company, CuteCircuit, that is “working on making technology that is more usable, emotionally fulfilling, and fun!” Featured projects include the Hug Shirt (sensation of being hugged), KineticDress (changes color depending on activity), A-Nerve (changes the fabric pleats in the shirt when you receive an incoming call), and more. Definitely take a look.
I geeked out and found a couple of relevant articles. “The LilyPad Arduino: Using Computational Textiles to Investigate Engagement, Aesthetics, and Diversity in Computer Science Education” and “Electronic/ Computational Textiles and Children’s Crafts.”
In terms of gender and computerization, I think this is clearly a field that encompasses many technologies and from what I can tell, women are playing a big role in it. As is evident from the second article, children can definitely be taught to make and program these technologies, which supports my idea that the sooner girls are introduced to and become excited by technology and computers, the more likely they are to study CS.
Since I admitted a while back that it’s been a good 15 years since I’ve read Seventeen magazine, I thought I’d see just what kind of technology, in the form of computers and cellphones, appears on its pages. All the while realizing this is a fashion magazine for teenagers, not a techno mag. [Conveniently, Keeley purchased a copy of the April issue while visiting this week.]
To begin: In the letter from the editor, fashion bloggers are mentioned. Specifically this one. [p16]
Next we have an advertisement for the Seventeen fashion finder iPhone app. “It’s the fun way to shop with Seventeen!” Also on this page, the TeenPROM app “for inspiration and ideas for the best prom ever.” [p53]
This one is a stretch, but I’ll mention it. Journeys’ shoe store has a bit that says “Friend us| Follow us| Watch us| [then icons for] Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.” [p62-3]
A bit more promising was the New York Film Academy Film school ad, althought the image was of a boy with a video camera. [p67]
Again, a stretch, but a CoverGirl ad had a contest-type thing where you can text a certain number for a free compact mirror. So, there we at least acknowledge girls use technology. [p69]
The feature “17 Fun Ways to Go Green” showcased techno related items for tips #2, 7, and 16. #2 “Upgrade your iPod! Instead of throwing out your old iPod when you’re ready for a new one, recycle it at the Apple store. The company can reuse up 90 percent of its parts, which keep dangerous metals out of landfills and toxic chemicals out of the air.” A little inset to the side says, “Save cash! Get 10% off on any new iPod just for bringing in your old one!”
#7 “Surf smarter. Make your laptop as green as possible. This energy-efficient mini notebook’s shell is made partially from recycled CDs, its packaging is recycled from plastic bottles, adn he manuals are printed on recycled paper!” And the accompanying inset, “Win It! One lucky reader will win this cute energy-saving laptop.” 
#16 Good Guide iPhone app that enables you to scan an item’s barcode and discover the its environmental pros and cons. Available for iPhone and iPodTouch.
Another iPhone app for mark, the Avon off-shoot for hip teenage girls. [p129] 
A story about interning for Tyra Banks has a “helpful” tricks of the trade inset with this bit of sage advice: “Don’t act your age. Always act maturely and professionally, even if you think no one is watching – don’t yap on the phone or text in the bathroom. You’ll be trusted with more work and more opportunities.” Beside it is a picture of a cellphone with a cross through it. [p132]
A story about providing aid to Haiti features a picture of a Blackberry with the info on texting to donate funds. [p132]
A photo shoot spread had one photo of a girl with big, chunky, yellow headphones around her neck. [p143]
The film school ad was basically the only image of a person engaged with technology. I definitely expected girls to be pictured with cellphones and laptops. But, no. And the one article, 17 Fun Ways to be Green, that had potential to really discuss the techno items was essentially advertising. Well, the entire mag was just one big advertisement as I suppose most are these days.
So, what did we learn from this? Aside from iPhone apps, technology doesn’t have a place in a fashionable girl’s life according to Seventeen magazine. And consume as much as possible. Recycle your old stuff and buy new things. Yes, yes, I know this was just one issue of the magazine, but I’m not proposing to publish my results in a journal, so I feel okay with extrapolating.
I think I will try this little investigation on a few other mags. So, stay tuned.
Ok, so I’m apparently behind the times. I’m guessing everyone has heard of the new vlogs that girls (so far as I can see) make when they get home from a hard day of shopping. Girls Gone Viral: Online Fame from Shopping opened my eyes to this new trend and described it as…
“A new phenomenon called “haul videos” means they [girl shoppers] can show off their purchases to the whole world. There are more than 110,000 haul videos currently on YouTube, and some videos are racking up tens of millions of views.” Tens of millions of viewers? Great advertising, right? Apparently some vloggers are scoring sponsorships, magazine spreads, and product deals. Still cheap when compared to the money these companies would be shelling out for adverstising.
The FTC has even enacted regulations concerning this cozy relationship between teenage vlogger and company. “While they are allowed to accept free merchandise, haul video vloggers must disclose if they are being paid by a company to review a product.” Crazy. Watch the video that accompanies the article from GMA, it pretty much sums up the insanity.
Without further ado, a haul video, so you get the picture. (I only watched the first minute, but it’s fairly simple to see what’s going on.)
Forever 21 haul. This appears to be the store of choice.
Now for the fun part. Haul video parodies! First, a mom’s grocery haul.
CVS Haul spoof by lilbluehersheykiss. Awesome! Watch it till the end.
The Wisconsin Rapids Tribune reports: “According to the year-long study of more than 1,000 women from Lifetime’s Women & Gaming study, 76 percent of women play electronic games and 83 percent of women gamers like to play on their own.”
Nena Fisher, a gamer and manager of Tech Lounge, said “more women are playing games at home than in larger areas such as Tech Lounge, and their choice of games are different.Girls are more into … role playing games. They also play (massive multiplayer online games), whereas guys are usually into first-person, shooter action-type games.”
Ok, so girls play different games than boys. Sometimes. But, they are gaming.
As the article says, not many girls into first-person shooters, so not many girls at the release for Halo 3.
This guy brings up lots of good points about girls and gaming. Why they aren’t there. What could bring them into the fold. Why the images aren’t working. etc. It’s long (~10min), but it sums up the issues pretty well.
A new article from Canada featuring the same experts with many of the same quotes in the same newspaper written by the same person. But I read it differently and found something new that she added.
This interesting tidbit about stereotypes… If you think about the places where girls are most likely to encounter stereotypical representations, you think tv, movies, and magazines, among other things. Well, Seventeen magazine, which is pretty much one big mash of stereotypes, has developed a Body Peace Treaty. With the treaty, girls vow to, among other things, “know that I’m beautiful just the way I am.” Admittedly it’s been a while since I’ve looked at a Seventeen magazine, but as I remember they’re all about “helping” you see how much more beautiful, thin, etc. you can be, if you just follow some trick or another. It’s a good try, but I don’t think it’s what we’re really looking for. The article makes a good point about the “treaty” –” It’s just a bundle of mixed messages and the corporation is able to create a relationship between the girl and the brand, to ‘friend’ the girl. … ‘Hey, it’s not us, it’s you! We’re here to help you not listen to the messages that we’re giving you.”
But, I do hesitate to say it’s all bad. The girl in the following video is obviously gaining some strength from reciting the treaty and encouraging other girls to join.
What do you think? Do we just have to try and extract the good from the bad?
Everywhere I’ve been lately, Wal-Mart, Indiana Ice game, the Girl Scouts have been out in full force selling their cookies. Way to go! But it looks like the Girl Scouts are going online these days to sell even more cookies. Way to go, again!
Girls are even making videos to market their cookies. However, “This official enthusiasm for digital marketing wasn’t apparent last year when a young Girl Scout in North Carolina posted a simple video on YouTube to pitch her cookies. The organization called the video a violation of its rules, and the scuffle over the 8-year-old’s viral effort became a national story.” Weird, right? Why shouldn’t a young girl use her mad technology skills to market her cookies? They say safety. Apparently, the Girl Scouts have gotten over this, since a quick search today of “buy Girl Scout cookies”, turned up a good number of marketing videos made by girls on YouTube. I suppose it could be that the girls just went ahead and made videos even though the organization didn’t approve? Subversive Badge, anyone? Here are a couple of examples:
I also found this helpful video on how to pump up cookie sales.
It seems like this type of online marketing could warrent a badge?!? Something to go along with the Computer Fun Badge for Junior Girl Scouts. Or Computer Smarts for Brownie Girl Scouts.
[Full disclosure: I was a Senior Girl Scout. And loved it. And I sold cookies, though not online.]
Sally Ride, in the article from yesterday’s post, said, “If you Google for pictures of scientists you get a page of geeky guys who look like Einstein. There’s no 11-year-old girl who aspires to that.” So, I thought…a test is in order. Of the top five results returned in my search for “scientist,” one actually has a woman as part of a larger group.
That was the fifth picture.
The first and third image were pretty much the same. The first pictured one scientist and the third had five. Really, though, who knows if it’s a man or woman under that suit? And I think they look pretty cool.
The second picture is a cartoon of very stereotypical male scientists.
The fourth image is also a cartoon. That doesn’t apply so much.
So what does this tell us? Men are represented more, just like S.R. said. And also, Google has a strange idea of a scientist (see last image). Though they weren’t necessarily the images I thought would be returned. I did expect more along the lines of the stereotypical male scientist.
Anways…Then I came across this. But, I’m not sure what it has to do with anything. Four girls wearing shirts that say “Talk to nerdy to me” across their breasts. A girl with her Mac on her bed. A girl in a Star Wars shirt. A girl with a “I (heart) my geek” shirt. So, we have sexualized images of girls in “geek ware.” They all aren’t, so that’s good. I’m fairly certain these are images for the male set. But still.
And then this. Which makes me sad.
Okay, Mary, what do you think? About scientists, nerd girls, or any other random thing – kind of like this post?
Sally Ride’s company helps teachers raise students’ interest in science. Sally Ride is a good STEM role model (speaking of role models) wouldn’t you say?
“Ride, 58, spoke to Reuters after appearing at a round-table discussion in Boston on gender equity and educating girls in the areas of math, science and engineering.” And what did she have to say?
“The message that our culture sends to kids is that science isn’t cool, that science is really hard. In 5th and 6th grade kids start to internalize that. Everyone wants to be normal at that age. It’s very important to counter those messages, and to make the teachers aware of this too. Often teachers don’t realize how pervasive the messages are.”
Yep, so everyone immediately STOP saying science is HARD. Please. She goes on to talk about the importance of role models. And medicine now has so many more women, indeed it has reached a critical mass, so there isn’t the stigma that girls can’t be doctors. Wouldn’t you think this would be the trajectory for computer science as well?
Then she had this question…
Q. When you studied physics at Stanford in the 1970s, did it bother you that you were one of the few women in the program? Empower you?
A. “I honestly didn’t think about it one way or another. I was oblivious to it. That negative peer pressure didn’t really have an effect on me. It did on a lot of my friends, though, and it still happens.”
Obviously there will always be girls and women who don’t care about the peer pressure and are able to forge ahead. But it also makes it strange that women who are oblivious to peer pressure would implement a program to relieve those stereotypes. Maybe we need to teach more girls not to care about peer pressure? Honestly, I do think any programs to encourage girls in STEM are great, but do you see what I mean?
Oh, dear, she totally evades admitting to being a “feminist” role model by saying:
“It’s very, very important for girls and young women to have role models and to put female faces on any profession they choose. There have been many women in space, but I’m the one that people remember. That gives me a major responsibility to talk to girls, to young women — to help them appreciate that these are careers that are wide open for women.”
Agreed, but are you a feminist, Sally Ride? We’re hoping so.
And she can be yours, too.
Or if you’d prefer…
