Justine Cassel
MIT Media Lab
Introduction
Background
Boys’ and Girls’ Differential Use of Computers
Mens’ and Women’s Differential Involvement in Information Technology
Hey! Let's Design Computer Games for Girls!
Barbie Fashion Designer: Designing for “the Girl”
Other Games for “the Girl”
Isn’t Traditional Femininity a Viable Option?
No! Let’s Appropriate Games for Boys
Isn’t Appropriation a Viable Option? The Case of Lara Croft
What Are “Boys ”and “Girls” Anyway?
A Short Note About Methodology
Another Option: Underdetermined Design for Me (Whoever I Am)
What About “Just Good Design” ?
Lessons Learned: Designing for Women
Conclusion: Focus Groups Are Okay, but Implementing Is Power
Acknowledgments
References
Figure 20.1: Barbie Fashion Designer software.
Figure 20.2: Characters in the Rockett software.
Figure 20.3: Let’s Talk About Me software.
Figure 20.4: Female fighter from Soul Caliber (released September 1999).
Figure 20.5: Lara Croft, Tomb Raider.
Figure 20.6: The Rosebud system.