So I've titled this post google search b.c what better way in finding an gendered website then by searching "websites for girls" or "websites for boys"
Not surprising when searching for girls i found this website http://www.gurl.com/
I am still deciding whether or not I like this website because as i continued to browse some things were actually helpful to girls but at the same time it is very very gendered.
One thing i took note of was the advertisements for jewelry, tampons, and cheerleading. BUT further looking into it is open to more types of sexuality not just the heterosexual.
At first sight too the website seem for "teeny boppers" but further looking into the website also suggests otherwise as the questions on the "ask heather" section are for older girls, but i guess at the same time a safe place for young girls to ask questions about sexuality sex and growing up in general.
THis website has just left me with a lot of questions about itself and how its connecting to the broader social ideas
as for searching for websites for boys i had much greater difficulty ..most things that appeared were websites for games for kids. Fun interactive games for kids. Do boys not need this advice column or these fun interactive games to make your own sweetheart? what about a website of blogs and questions about homosexuality and heterosexuality in the same place so that they can i have a safe place to learn more if they are still nervous or scared aorund their friends and family...
just lots of questions that i have on this one .. let me know what you guys think
-Kate Bauer
Not surprising when searching for girls i found this website http://www.gurl.com/
I am still deciding whether or not I like this website because as i continued to browse some things were actually helpful to girls but at the same time it is very very gendered.
One thing i took note of was the advertisements for jewelry, tampons, and cheerleading. BUT further looking into it is open to more types of sexuality not just the heterosexual.
At first sight too the website seem for "teeny boppers" but further looking into the website also suggests otherwise as the questions on the "ask heather" section are for older girls, but i guess at the same time a safe place for young girls to ask questions about sexuality sex and growing up in general.
THis website has just left me with a lot of questions about itself and how its connecting to the broader social ideas
as for searching for websites for boys i had much greater difficulty ..most things that appeared were websites for games for kids. Fun interactive games for kids. Do boys not need this advice column or these fun interactive games to make your own sweetheart? what about a website of blogs and questions about homosexuality and heterosexuality in the same place so that they can i have a safe place to learn more if they are still nervous or scared aorund their friends and family...
just lots of questions that i have on this one .. let me know what you guys think
-Kate Bauer
Very interesting post.
ReplyDeleteYou know, it's funny. Looking at this "gURL" website, I'm kind of brought back to my childhood. Knowing the kinds of things I was into when I was at this younger age, I hate to say it, but I know for a fact that I would have LOVED this website, haha. I would have completely eaten up the whole 'make your own sweetheart' thing, and found it so entertaining. And what's interesting about it, is that I've never been so much a 'girly-girl', and ever aspired to have anything like this in the real world - but it was just something fun to play with as a child or young teen. Perhaps 'by the book', we could link this to escapism.
But this just proves the social norms we're born into as children and what we're taught to enjoy. I think back to games like "Dream Phone", which I used to play as a young girl. I never particularly WANTED to have a relationship like one of these, a boy who talked to me the way these guys talked, and I never once found it realistic. But, cultured the way we are as either boy or girl, blue or pink - for some reason, I absolutely loved games like this.
Just something I thought of.
-ctime*