by Janese Swanson Ed.D,

Video games have traditionally been designed with adolescent males in mind - lots of "shoot 'em up" action, where winner takes all. This has left girls, who prefer games that encourage cooperation and focus on problem solving and strategic skills, with little choice when it comes to gaming. A lack of female-friendly games means girls are less engaged with computer technology.

Consumers need to convince the video game industry that creating games for girls makes good business sense. You can encourage game manufacturers to consider girls when designing and marketing video games, by sending them the following guidelines:

• Create appealing characters that both genders enjoy.
• Avoid stereotypes and myths about females and males.
• Create products and marketing strategies that feature healthy female role models.
• Have girls test products and offer their opinions on all aspects from colour to content.
• Design feedback questions and consider answers with socialized biases (e.g. girls will say any pink product is for girls because that is what they have been taught by society).
• Show girls actively participating in and enjoying the use of technology on advertising and packaging.
  

Present products through the media in a way that will educate and lead to a new way of thinking about girls and technology.