Mamas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be On A Board Game

October 23, 2008 at 7:17 pm | Posted in Pondering | 3 Comments
Tags: Barack Obama, board games, feminism, Guess Who, John McCain, Sarah Palin

For me, feminism rears its head in the strangest places. As a woman, I don’t spend a lot of energy thinking about the ratio of men to women in the work place, or the fact that there has never been a female president, or even the focus on Sarah Palin’s wardrobe. Sure, no one is focusing on Barack Obama’s suits or John McCain’s ties, and I’m not either, because their outfits are boring. But I like Sarah’s clothes. I think she’s a snappy dresser.

I do feel a little irritated when people tell me to learn to cook to keep my man around, because how else would I keep him? Certainly not with interesting conversation or a unique ability to quote every movie I’ve ever seen. If he doesn’t have a five course dinner to look forward to every night, he’ll probably take a lover. It always peeved me when auto mechanics would take one look at me and instantly know I needed to give them $2,000, but the moment my dad or Drew would poke their heads around the corner, the conversation would become all, “Hey, Buddy, I think it’s just a small belt problem,” and half the time, the “small belt problem” would be fixed along with a free oil change.

Yesterday, I resurrected a foggy memory of one my favorite board games from my childhood: Guess Who.

Guess Who. Dashing girls dreams of being featured on a board game for 25 years.

I remember playing this game with my sister, and the first question we’d always ask was, “Is your person a boy?” If the other player said, “No,” indicating she had unfortunately drawn one of the five women in the game, we’d always cackle delightedly. Drawing a woman card was the worst thing that could ever happen to you. The other player could automatically knock down all but five players and in two minutes, your Guess Who game was over. How are these Guess Who people getting away with creating an entire game with only five girls? How are the feminists allowing this game to persist? What does a little girl think when she opens up her brand new Guess Who game and finds it full of boys?

If her name is Taryn, she thinks two things. One: I hope my sister drew a girl card. Two: I’ll probably never get my picture in the Guess Who game. Guess I’ll have to go back to the old stand-by and become a princess. Ho hum.

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I stumbled across this while looking for a good image of the Guess Who game board, and I must say you bring up a very good point! Why on earth are there only 5 girls on the game board? I know the newest version has printable sheets so you can change people, and I would hope those have a better guy:girl ratio!

Comment by Nina — February 6, 2010 #

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You look like a perfectionist. Wonderful website and excellent writing expertise.

Comment by Theodore Scherrman — April 3, 2010 #

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Hi guys,

My name is Charlie and I am from Stirling in the United Kingdom. I have freshly discovered this forum and I like it very much.
I am a bit shy so I wont write much about myself but maybe when I will get more confortable, you will get to know me better!
My main hobbies are cooking and watching movies. I also love outdoor activites but the temperature has been bad for the last days or so here in Stirling.

I was wondering if anyone else here is from the united Kingdom too?

I am glad to have joined this forum!
Have a nice day!

Comment by Wevyglyclelon — May 22, 2010 #

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