What girls and boys value

Girls value: friendship, caring, collaboration, consensus and sharing.
Negatives are: alienation, undermining others, being ostracised.

Boys value: strength, self reliance, competition and winning.
Negatives are: fear of emasculation, expressions of weakness and helplessness.

So how does this affect the design of communities (virtual and otherwise), and business cultures/environments to bring out the best of each gender group?

(From Scarlett Thomas’ Popco, ISBN 978 1 84767 335 0.)

3 comments on “What girls and boys value”

1. Bradley said:
   

   I find it odd that people are still trying to force gender roles on society. In today’s world, individuality is praised much more than conforming to traditional roles, so more people are expressing themselves. I think putting these types of traits out as the definitive “you’re not a man/woman unless you think/act this way” is detrimental to growth and expression, and self-confidence.

   Personally, I value intelligence, experience, understanding, and wisdom much more than the traits mentioned above. That’s not to say I’m a lazy slob that’s out of shape (though I have put on a few pounds over the last couple months) because I do exercise when I have time, and I enjoy mostly outdoor activities. Never been keen on sports, but I like to walk, travel, hike/camp, and go for the occasional jog when my ankle isn’t bothering me too much.

   As far as fears, I worry about senility, being unable to look after myself, and being unable to look after my family. I can agree on that fear of helplessness though. I’ve been in situations where I was helpless to prevent or change an outcome and it pissed me off to no end. Though, that might have just been my OC tendencies kicking up a fuss.

   
   28 May 2009 at 11:11 am
2. Zern said:
   

   Just to clarify – the book is a novel where the central character is a toy designer in current times. These traits were summarised from the character’s employer’s research into gender differences in children.

   We don’t know how much of these traits are intrinsic or emergent from socialisation etc.

   Socialisation and imposed roles aside, there are still undeniable innate differences rooted biology. Not that these should have any bearing on an individual’s right of expression and freedom of choice.

   Regardless, designers, marketers and communications creators still need to be aware of these differences. Equal rights for all does not mean everyone’s the same.

   Of course gender is but one method of grouping a population.

   
   28 May 2009 at 8:12 pm
3. Bradley said:
   

   Good points.

   
   28 May 2009 at 8:35 pm

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