Unequal opportunities for boys and girls, courtesy of Mattel
Written: Jan 10 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: comes with software for kids
Cons: fewer educational software than HotWheels PC
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| mulan's Full Review: Barbie PC |
For $599 you can get the real thing-- a normal computer for normal people. Why Barbie PC for girls and Hot Wheels PC for boys? Look closer at the two different computers and you will see blatant gender discrimination beyond the surface Barbie and Hot Wheels characterizations.
Barbie PC and HotWheels PC come with almost totally different sets of software. Barbie PC comes with significantly fewer software programs in math, logic, and science education as well as general reference.
Barbie PC comes with 6 educational software programs, 1 game, and 13 fun software programs (such as fashion design, party planning).
HotWheels PC comes with 11 educational software programs, 4 games (somewhat educational, including the classic Oregon Trail which is not included with Barbie PC), and 4 fun software programs.
Take a look for yourself at http://www.barbiepc.com and http://www.hotwheelspc.com.
The idea that girls and boys need different computers, and different software, is not something we need in the 21st century when we are trying to give girls and boys, women and men, equal opportunities in all fields and careers including engineering and computer science. If parents buy toys that discriminate between boys and girls in the level of math, science, and logic skills, is it any wonder that later on in life these same girls and boys achieve different levels of success in their education and careers in these fields?
I say, give your children a fair opportunity. Kids can learn to use a "grown-up" computer just as easily, and you and your children can choose your own software together.
(For $999, you can get a candy-colored easy-to-use iMac that you and your kids can all use, and your kids will not outgrow.)
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
mulan
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Reviews written: 15
Trusted by: 14 members
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