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From: dmerrill@zombie.dtc.hp.com (David Merrill)
Newsgroups: soc.feminism
Subject: Re: computer games & women/girls
Message-ID: <7060003@hpdtczb.HP.COM>
Date: 10 Apr 91 20:43:49 GMT
References: <13947@ccncsu.ColoState.EDU>
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In soc.feminism, farmerl@handel.cs.colostate.EDU (lisa ann farmer) writes:

>Hi.  I am writing a term paper on computer games & women/girls : the
>reasons why women/girls aren't interested in them and what effects
>this will have on them (i.e not going into the field of computer
>science).  I might try to design a game after I have collected my info
>that incorporates what I have found.  My question to the net is good
>sources for current articles, some games that are "friendly" towards
>women/girls and if anyone has experiences (good and bad) with computer
>games - I wouldn't mind some input via email about this subject.  I
>don't know if I will be able to post a summary but I will try!



Lisa,
I think you have cause and effect reversed here.  It seems to me that 
fewer women than men are interested in computer games because fewer
women are interested in computers.  Period.  Now, the reason you find 
far fewer female computer people than male computer people is another
question altogether.  

Maybe women are too socially skilled to retreat into the oblivion of 
computer-nerdiness.

In any case, I think I can speak for most people (male and female)in the 
field when I say that we need more female engineers.  Going entire days
talking to dozens of men and only one or two women is strange, to say the
least.


Dave