Armies 'for girls'

[Luddite]

Hi all,

So I'in a few gaming groups.

My boardgames group is firmly mixed gender and some sessions, the men are in the minority.

With my wargames groups, women are a rare breed indeed.

So a topic poped up recently that I've been chatting about and I'd love to hear opinions on here (especially from any female s present).

Anyway, the discussion was basically, why don't many girls/women play wargames?

One of my friends suggested that its becase there aren't really any armies 'for girls'.

What do you think?

What would an army 'for girls'even be?!

Is the fact that I'm even asking the question indicative of why women don't play much?

[Bergil]

I sell these pony figures which might arguably make a suitable army for 'the girls'.

http://www.slapminis.com/pewter-ponies-24-c.asp

[shredder]

I sell these pony figures which might arguably make a suitable army for 'the girls'.

http://www.slapminis.com/pewter-ponies-24-c.asp

I know my daughter would like those :-)

When my 2 (8 yr old twins) set up my figures, she grabs all the cavalry.

G

[nic-e]

gonna draw on my psychology studies here and say it's the way girls are taught to play.

young girls have dolls, and create characters,mimic social interaction and just generally learn social play.
boys have toy soldiers and learn "large" play, creating scenarios rather than interactions, or play sport and learn conflict play, which promotes teamwork, but as a large group rather than 1 to 1 interaction.

so whiles roleplaying is more suited to the type of play girls are brought up  with, wargaming isn't, not in the same way anyway.

It's easy to transfer skills learned playing in groups with other girls to roleplayoing than wargaming, which lacks that actual personal ability to interact.

[former user]

well, I would say that wargames are mostly about the mechanics and guys like to discuss these topics to death while playing, whereas girls are more interested in the narrative - I don't see DPhipps complaing about not enough girls.

So, make Your wargames more scenario and narrative oriented and less competitive or technical and You might have more fun - for two reasons.... 

[shredder]

gonna draw on my psychology studies here and say it's the way girls are taught to play.

young girls have dolls, and create characters,mimic social interaction and just generally learn social play.
boys have toy soldiers and learn "large" play, creating scenarios rather than interactions, or play sport and learn conflict play, which promotes teamwork, but as a large group rather than 1 to 1 interaction.

so whiles roleplaying is more suited to the type of play girls are brought up  with, wargaming isn't, not in the same way anyway.

It's easy to transfer skills learned playing in groups with other girls to roleplayoing than wargaming, which lacks that actual personal ability to interact.

Having twins, one of each, I was quite surprised to find that at a certain age they started doing the "typical boy and girl thing". In some areas it was quite sudden and at that stage certainly not to do with the way they were brought up and the toys they had.

Boys and girls ARE wired differently. That is a massive generalisation but it is true.

G

[nic-e]

Having twins, one of each, I was quite surprised to find that at a certain age they started doing the "typical boy and girl thing". In some areas it was quite sudden and at that stage certainly not to do with the way they were brought up and the toys they had.

Boys and girls ARE wired differently. That is a massive generalisation but it is true.

G

I'm afraid children take their influence from alot of other places. they might have friends or peers who do the typical barbie and action man thing, or see it on tv, and it really does affect them. boys play aggressive resolution of conflict, girls play social interaction around conflict. this is what gets sold to them and it seems to weedle it's way in regardless of how much you try to keep stereotypes at the door.

[Bergil]

Having twins, one of each, I was quite surprised to find that at a certain age they started doing the "typical boy and girl thing". In some areas it was quite sudden and at that stage certainly not to do with the way they were brought up and the toys they had.

Boys and girls ARE wired differently. That is a massive generalisation but it is true.

G

I don't know, girls and boys are obviously slightly different generally but my two will be happy to at least join in with one anothers activities.

[shredder]

I'm afraid children take their influence from alot of other places. they might have friends or peers who do the typical barbie and action man thing, or see it on tv, and it really does affect them. boys play aggressive resolution of conflict, girls play social interaction around conflict. this is what gets sold to them and it seems to weedle it's way in regardless of how much you try to keep stereotypes at the door.

I don't disagree with that at all, but they are also influenced by the fact that they are male or female.

[nic-e]

I don't disagree with that at all, but they are also influenced by the fact that they are male or female.

Aye,that too 

[Ockman]

Gender is a social construct, the neurobiological difference between girls and boys is negligible (says the psychologist(that's me))!

Then why do not girls play wargames?

My guess would be that the wargaming community isn't very welcoming to girls/women. The portrayal of women in most wargame settings are awful and the language I've met at different gaming stores/conventions/etc. is horrible!

[nic-e]

Gender is a social construct, the neurobiological difference between girls and boys is negligible (says the psychologist(that's me))!

Then why do not girls play wargames?

My guess would be that the wargaming community isn't very welcoming to girls/women. The portrayal of women in most wargame settings are awful and the language I've met at different gaming stores/conventions/etc. is horrible!

This too! i have already told my story regarding my girlfriend coming into my flgs with me in another thread
.

[Mahwell skel]

Elves?

On a serious note I think the lack of heroines in a lot of wargames settings causes a problem. The majority of wargames brush over any female involvement. Positive female role models are hard to come by in wargames.

Can't think of many

Fantasy there is some
Eowyn in LOTR.
Various Warmachine people (but often female stereotypes)

Historically you really struggle
Joan of Arc?

[v_lazy_dragon]

My Mrs is a deifinte sci-fi and fantasy fan - although she seldom plays, she frequently buys and paints tyranids, eldar, Necrons, Lizardmen and keeps trying to filch my Quar. She also has a fairly extensive collection of 'movie/TV characters' - Riddick, the Firefly crew, assorted Dr Who regenerations, etc....

[Major_Gilbear]

I think you are asking the wrong question.

Try what GAMES would girls like to play.

I think the sticking point is rules and style of games over girls don't want to wargame.

Yep.

Despite being a rare breed, it's amazing how many more ladies seem to play Malifaux than 40k (at least, judging by photos of tourneys and people posting on relevant games forums). I think it is exactly as you say that different games appeal to different people.

In fact, at a more local level, we have a mixed boardgaming group, and there are some games that just don't appeal as much to the ladies as others (and vice-versa).

So if you don't see many female wargamers, maybe there just aren't many wargames that are really intended to cater for them?