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Author
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Topic: Why are there less Women involved in Organized Play
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Apolonia
Member
Member # 83163
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posted October 06, 2002 12:51 PM
I have been watching a lot of topics on this board and have seen that there are more men involved in playing/teaching Pokemon than Women.
Is Pokemon a game for only the male humans on this world?
Untill the age of 14 there are female players, but just so little. And for the 15+ you need a candle to find them.
Gymleaders are most men, i only now one other female gymleader in this country at this moment.
I think that most women don't have the time to do something time-eating as running a league.
Raising children, housekeeping and having a job will absorp most of your time and energy.
To be honest even if a partner helps you with the things concerning kids or the housekeeping, most of the problems of running a family will stick with the lady of the house.
Men go out for work having a full time job, women also work but only in the time the kids are to school. So you have to face timelimits day after day. When a kid gets sick, who is the one arranging a day off or a babysitter?
Or is playing pokemon to agressive for women. Could be a reason because women are better in fighting with words.
I like to hear some reactions on this.
Not about the tasks between partners, but more about how many female players are there in other leagues and how many of them are adults (say 25+)
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The Netherlands is that a city nearby Paris
From: Netherlands | Registered: May 2002
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Raikou
Member # 80
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posted October 06, 2002 01:00 PM
all i can say is ROFL=\
as for women in the game...very few that i know...very... =/
off the top of my head i could probably name u 15 max =\
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~David Friedlander
aka General Raikou
DCI Rating - 1987, 2nd in Raleigh, 3rd in NC, 110th Global...OMG GENCON IS UPLOADED...1940,2nd raleigh, 7th NC, 220nd global =\\\\\\\
AIM - DaveJfr0
"I resign...this time for good" =/
From: Raleigh, NC, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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Apolonia
Member
Member # 83163
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posted October 06, 2002 01:26 PM
Raikou
And you are in the USA were the game is much more promoted than overhere.
How can i get more female players?
How can i get the mothers of children more involved?
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The Netherlands is that a city nearby Paris
From: Netherlands | Registered: May 2002
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Raikou
Member # 80
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posted October 06, 2002 01:33 PM
More Promoted? How? I never ever see comercials for the card game, even when I watch channels like Nickelodien and the such. The only promotion it gets is if a little kid goes to the card section of a store and sees the cards and is like OHHHHHH let me get some.
Get more females players and mothers....hmmm I don't really know how you can do that...maybe if you had me ov...nah that wouldn't work. =/
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~David Friedlander
aka General Raikou
DCI Rating - 1987, 2nd in Raleigh, 3rd in NC, 110th Global...OMG GENCON IS UPLOADED...1940,2nd raleigh, 7th NC, 220nd global =\\\\\\\
AIM - DaveJfr0
"I resign...this time for good" =/
From: Raleigh, NC, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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TRCassidy
Member # 37575
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posted October 06, 2002 02:20 PM
Er, hi, I'm a female who's 15 and playing pokey, so, um, yeah. I could have been the GL at our local WotC store, but I liked the competition at my other league more so I declined. And yeah, it's really hard to find girls in pokemon, much less those who play in DCI sanctioned tourneys... =\
How to get mothers involved... Well, how about through their children? Have your leaguers teach their moms how to play, and explain to the moms about how playing the game would be a great way to bond with their kid. You get to spend time with your kid, and you know where they are so that way you don't have to worry about them doing drugs or whatever. Pokemon would also develope the social skills of the child, but in order for the child's skills to improve, s/he must have someone to play against at home to practice with... ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
~TRC
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"In spite of all the refinements of civilization that conspired to make art--the dizzying perfection of the string quartet or the sprawling grandeur of Fragonard's canvases--beauty was savage. It was as dangerous and lawless as the earth had been eons before one man had one single coherent thought in his head or wrote codes of conduct on tablets of clay. Beauty was a Savage Garden." --Lestat, The Vampire Lestat
\/\/3 |\|33|> gu|\|5, _1075_0f gu|\|5.
From: Chicago, Il | Registered: Aug 2001
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Michel
Member # 286
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posted October 06, 2002 02:50 PM
I do agree with Apolonia, ... seems that I hear my wife speaking
I don't think that it's a typical Pokemon question, there are really few women in other tcg too.
How to increase the number of women/mothers in the game and in OP ?
LEAGUES !
Change the idea that Pokemon is a kids game, that a league is a place where kids play (or a place where you leave your kid while you're doing shopping).
A league can be a place where kids and parents do something TOGETHER.
Involve the parents in their kid's activity/passion, involve them in the league and in the game.
I'm sure you'll have more women in the game and in OP, and you'll have better leagues and more kids too.
Just one example : little Jimmy (or Terry if you prefer) wants to play a Gym Challenge.
Bad luck, it's 100 miles away from home.
None of the parents play the game or are interested in it.
Do you really believe they'll drive 200 miles ?
I don't think so.
But if they are involved in the game, not only they'll be happy to drive 200 miles to share a passion with Jimmy (or Terry), but they'll also take other kids with them in the car.
Last year I've played a tournament in Eindhoven (NL). There were two age groups, like always, but I played in the other age group ... 35+.
Stupid ? Not at all. Parents were playing in their group while kids were playing in theirs.
And I may assure you that we've all, kids and parents, had a lot of fun.
I don't believe you'll have your neighbour in the game if he/she has no kids, but I'm sure you may have parents in the game.
Ask to all the fathers/mothers who play with their kids their opinion about that.
I'm sure you'll always have the same answer : fantastic !
A father told me two days ago that he was afraid of one thing : see his kids leave the game, because he's sharing a passion with them. They're spending time together doing something they love.
If your kid wants to play soccer, football or baseball, I understand it's not easy for a mother to participate, ... but with Pokemon it's possible
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From: Brussels - Belgium | Registered: Feb 2001
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jdb728
Member # 60530
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posted October 06, 2002 03:35 PM
The best answer I can think of is that more Males wants to play the game then females.
Accually, the first ever 10- World Champ was a female, the GL where I go to league is a female, we have upwards of about 5 female players at my league(I think), maybe even more.
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Proud 1st place winner in 3 of the 5 sealed deck tourneys I've participated in. God bless America. Waffles. Oregon-location of a couple Qual's a GC, a couple SBZ's, and Portland regonal Tournaments.
From: Salem, Or. | Registered: Jan 2002
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John Kulp
Member
Member # 64111
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posted October 06, 2002 04:06 PM
Well you certainly raised a very valid viewpoint Apolonia. I have often wondered on the same question for years. Parents are easy to get once the chlidren are hooked but the girls,there in lies the tale. In my League we do have girls and parents who play. Of course the girls are around 10-14 and certainly NO ONE close to my age(I'm 20). I'd like to think that girls don't play because they considered Pokemon too childish because it's just that-a kids' game. While other card games(Magic,DBZ,Yugi-oh)do not have that albatross on their heads. Meaning they are meant for an adult audience and have that respect. That and maybe its considered chic. I don't really know. If it weren't for that maybe we have more female players at least over where I am. Of course in my case, [edit: sorry, but this falls over into bashing. Maybe this attitude affects your female level of participation? -Pop]
Hope I helped.
[ October 06, 2002, 09:18 PM: Message edited by: PokePop ]
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"And how dare they act like we're criminals? They should welcome Team Rocket."
-James(Epi 2)
"May the death of the world be upon each and every one of you."
-Ezekial Rage
"Ah,excellent! Feel the rage!"
-Professor Nanba(Epi 224)
From: Pittsburgh,PA | Registered: Feb 2002
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SD_PokeMom
Member # 97
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posted October 06, 2002 04:39 PM
*opens can of worms*
Oh, boy. There are lots of reasons, IMHO, why there aren't as many females in any game as males. Some of it has to do with how "comfortable" women/girls feel with competition in general; I've seen girls who would apologize to their opponent every time they k/o'd a Pokémon or won a game...because of the socialization girls get from an early age to be "nice".
Some of it has to do with...yes...player decorum. I know this has been said over and over on the boards, but if a league/game store has a non-"friendly" "feel" to women and girls, they won't shop/buy/play there. I speak from experience; there was a store in my area that was rampantly unfriendly to women and girls. Sorry, I won't shop at a store with employees that treat me like I'm stupid and only a "wallet" for my kids when I'm shopping for game supplies. Worse yet, this store had employees who processed debit card transactions for MORE than the purchase, and pocketed the difference; this happened to a mom in my league. Needless to say the word spread throughout our league families, and no one shopped there anymore...
Think about your league and store. Is there a lot of trashtalk during games...and not just during Pokémon, but in the other games that are going on at the same time? Then moms aren't going to be real enthusiastic about having their younger children participate in league there once they hear the talk for themselves. Do the older and/or better players talk trash about the other "random" league/tournament players?
Since most trashtalk I've heard/read has a sexual connotation...so and so's deck "raping" someone else's, for example; so and so is my [female canine]; this or that "sucks" or is [insert three-letter term for homosexual which seems to be used more as a derogatory term than anything else]...get the picture? That type of environment discourages females of all ages from playing or having their children of both sexes participate in ANYTHING in the store.
There were several female professors at Worlds, and two of us in "zebra stripes"...myself and Elaine Chase, who was HJ in the 10 and under. I've become acquainted online with other female GLs/TOs; it seems like the women who are involved in League/tourneys are heavily involved, though.
IMHO, there are no easy answers here because it depends on many factors. This isn't just a Pokémon thing, either; I've seen this same question on the Magic meta-board.
*watches the worms escape and start crawling all over the floor*
[ October 06, 2002, 04:49 PM: Message edited by: SD_PokeMom ]
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Master Professor/Tournament Organizer/Pokémon League Gym Leader,
Adventure Games and Comics, Poway, CA
Nothing endures in this world. Everything changes according to karma. But, like the ocean, underneath the restless existance of the countless waves there is one boundless stillness that embraces and gives life to all the moving waves. Namuamidabutsu...
From: San Diego, CA --location of WCSTS-2001 and West Stadium Challenge 2002 | Registered: Feb 2001
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Martin Moreno
Member
Member # 107070
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posted October 06, 2002 04:50 PM
You know, Pokemom, the teen players of this game aren't the blame for EVERYTHING wrong with Pokemon. I mean, whens the last time you HAVEN'T had a negative thing to say about us?
The thing is, Male players have outnumbered Female players since the start of this game. I mean, the games based on a Video game. Something that usually isn't associated with females. This game simply dosen't appeal to females In general.
I sure wish there was something teen players AREN'T blamed for...
[ October 06, 2002, 04:56 PM: Message edited by: Martin Moreno ]
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-The Chosen One Martin
"Martin, you've been mentally outta here for a long time." -PokePop
From: Dallas Texas | Registered: Sep 2002
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Articjedi
Member # 342
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posted October 06, 2002 05:23 PM
Well, there are some female gym leaders. It isn't true everywhere that female gym leaders are rare.
Female players are even rarer. Especially here in Seattle, I know only a few female players. I guess it's the competitive nature of the game that turns them off. Sorry to stereotype, but girls generally won't brag about their 1337 decks or how many tourneys they won. Most of the players since the start have been men, so naturally most of the players later on will be males.
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Thank you WOTC for a wonderful pokemon journey.
From: Seattle, Washington | Registered: Feb 2001
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Pokidad
Member # 135
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posted October 06, 2002 05:28 PM
Well, first I think you need to gather some facts about where these games are held and who runs these gaming stores to get a picture of a possible explanation why there are less adults, and possible women, that play this game. I can only speak from my experiences here in the US and the Washington, DC area.
Most of the stores we played at over the past several years were owned by men. Most of them didn't hold leagues but held many non-DCI Pokemon tournaments on a weekly basis. Even though most of the players were boys (under age of 15), there were a few girls that played in these stores. The kids were rough and usually there were sometimes stealing of cards between players or other stores customers that came in while kids were playing. So, the playing environment was rough and crude.
Mostly, I saw parents, mostly moms, dropping their kids off to play and pick them up later. At this time I was probably the only dad that was playing. When other parents asked me why I was playing, I told them I enjoy doing something with my kids and would they like to learn a fun game. The parents always came up with many excuses. To me, the parents missing an opportunity to be involve in their kids activities.
So, what else did I see. A few GLs that were women. One actually played the game and competed at the ECSTS events. She was very good. She left the game since her son moved on to other TCGs within the past year or so.
There are two other parents I know that play the game with their kids, both are Dads. They still play the game.
There is three other working moms I know that play this game, one lives in North Carolina that plays with her kids, one in NY and the other in Florida. The only other mom I know is from Belgium and she is an excellent player as well.
So, why aren't there more parents (moms and dads) that play or other women? I think Michel, SDPokeMom (yes, this is a "can of worms"), and others have provided some ideas why there are less females in the game. I sure we could list many if we all tried. How to get them involve? Just keep encouraging them to join their kids and be active in their lifes. I'm sure these parents play other games with them (i.e., board games).
Martin: We don't blame kids for the cause of why parents (moms or dads) don't like this game or have negative things to say about kids that do play the game. There are more positives things about kids that play this game than negative. I'm sure most of the parents that play this game with their kids will agree with me on this one. Unfortunate, some parents will use anything as an excuse not to play the game with their kids. I heard it all. ![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
From: Falls Church, VA USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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Raikou1234
Member
Member # 3003
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posted October 06, 2002 05:36 PM
Well, 3 come often, or once a while to our tournaments, maybe even 4-5.... Another I go to once and a while has 3-7 girls.... Also, if there's not enough girls, talk to your friends and support them to come and play....
[ October 06, 2002, 05:39 PM: Message edited by: Raikou1234 ]
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Team Format Winner at Origins with SuperSpaceGuy!
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From: Somewhere | Registered: Mar 2001
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PokePop
Member # 8
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posted October 06, 2002 05:40 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Martin Moreno:
You know, Pokemom, the teen players of this game aren't the blame for EVERYTHING wrong with Pokemon. I mean, whens the last time you HAVEN'T had a negative thing to say about us?
The thing is, Male players have outnumbered Female players since the start of this game. I mean, the games based on a Video game. Something that usually isn't associated with females. This game simply dosen't appeal to females In general.
I sure wish there was something teen players AREN'T blamed for...
It's really very simple. If you don't trash talk, she wasn't talking about you. If you do trash talk, don't shoot the messenger.
She gave specific examples of specific places where she observed the behavior she described. It was in no way a general "15+" bash. Hmmmmm?
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"This kind of makes you miss the compendium..." - Martin Moreno
The Compendium: http://pkcompendium.hypermart.net
Registered: Feb 2001
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Randyrho
Member # 64307
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posted October 06, 2002 06:02 PM
Mom is right. I have played in two Toys R Us Leagues in the same city as Mr. Gulp. In both these other Leagues, we had several PokeMom participants. There was NEVER any "trash talk" or disrespect at these stores. One of those female Leaguers went on to become a Professor. I enjoy the participation of females in the League. If you talk to them, they'll often bring an entirely new perspective to deck building and strategy that we guys ought to learn from. They also tend to have more patience working with the younger kids.
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Pokémon Professor - March 28, 2002
From: Swissvale, PA. | Registered: Feb 2002
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yoshi1001
Member # 825
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posted October 06, 2002 06:13 PM
Well, there's the enternal question. I don't know. I guess a bunch of monsters running around beating the crud out of each other is a guy thing. ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Actually, while not many females play, those that do are often:
1. Independent
2. Assertive
3. Creative
Mewtwo: 4. Likely to be interviewed for PIRN
![[Blush]](graemlins/blush.gif)
True.
Now conmpare these (minus #4 of course) to certain characters on the show-notice a certain correlation?
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AIM: yoshi1001
From: Janesville, Wisconsin | Registered: Feb 2001
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Dark and Vile
Member # 74653
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posted October 06, 2002 08:07 PM
My daughter plays and she does ok.
At Worlds (she won the Washington, DC GC) I asked which sleeves she was going to us. "Bronze." When I asked why, she said "It looks like blood."
That's my girl.
In our league here in Raleigh, we probably have about 5 girls and 2 moms who play regularly and all of them are extremely competitive.
There are more boys (our league is thriving and we've been having 24 or so for tournaments lately), but the girls and women make their presence known.
From: Melbourne, FL | Registered: Apr 2002
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SLGrib
Member # 29643
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posted October 06, 2002 10:26 PM
As an adult female player (25+), this topic is of particular interest to me.
I used to attend two different Pokemon Leagues at Toys R Us and I was somewhat of a "curiosity" to the younger players. I can't begin to count how many times I heard "Wow, YOU play?" or "Look! A Mom who plays!" I regularly saw several girls in attendance. A few parents would stay to watch, even fewer played the game. Whenever a mother/grandmother brought their child to League, I would take the opportunity to speak with them about the game encouraging their interest and support.
Regarding competition,
quote:
Articjedi: "I guess it's the competitive nature of the game that turns them off."
I couldn't disagree more...I for one enjoy intense competition. (By the way, Articjedi, love your sig.) What ARE "turn-offs"
- Cut-throat playing techniques
- Overly competitive children
- Paternalistic attitudes
When TrU stores chose not to sponsor Pokemon, venues in my region became scarce. I tried going to a different league where there were significantly fewer females. I'll have to agree with both SD_Pokemom and Pokidad here:
quote:
Pokidad: "Well, first I think you need to gather some facts about where these games are held and who runs these gaming stores to get a picture of a possible explanation why there are less adults, and possible women, that play this game."
quote:
SD_Pokemom: "Some of it has to do with...yes...player decorum. I know this has been said over and over on the boards, but if a league/game store has a non-"friendly" "feel" to women and girls, they won't shop/buy/play there."
Perhaps it was the nature of the retail location (a Comic Book, RPG, Trading Card store) but not only did the male members greatly outnumber female players the playing environment was entirely different. Competition is one thing. Politics is another. After one of their tournaments, a little girl I didn't even know came up to give me a big hug because I beat the male "champion." I've since stopped going to that League. To be honest, it left such a bad taste in my mouth I've all but given up the game.
On a COMPLETELY different note: We might be overlooking a really basic reason for the drop off in interest for girls after a certain age.
Biology. ![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
Remember puberty? It is simply natural that pre-teen/teenage girls will distance themselves from anything "childish" or any activity where they'd have to go one-on-one with a boy, or worse, compete against them. Gosh, what if you beat them?!
Regarding adult female interest: Those of us adults who do play can only try to encourage both Mom & Dad to pick-up the game. Parents are much more likely to listen (and learn) from another adult. I've often wondered, if they only knew how fun this game really is, they'd play. I know their kids would be thrilled.
I certainly miss playing the "little ones" between 5-7, even if I often had to remind them to draw a card or attach energy. They had a love for the game and a joy in playing that was infectious. ![[Bounce]](graemlins/jump.gif)
I hope my own efforts to help create a League similar to those I remember at TrU will be successful.
[edited to correct quote attribution to Pokidad. ![[Smile]](smile.gif) -Pop]
[ October 07, 2002, 05:58 AM: Message edited by: PokePop ]
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A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. - Prov. 18.2
From: Southwestern, PA | Registered: Jun 2001
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*Misty*
Member
Member # 63453
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posted October 07, 2002 04:18 AM
I guess I'd say I'm still a kid (I'm 13), but I'm a competitive female poke-player.
As Yoshi said...these females are most likely:
1. Independent...yup.
2. Assertive...sort of; I know what I want and no one can sway my beliefs and opinions.
3. Creative...take a look at my room. I call my complete wall-coverage pokemon collage 'creativity', but most say I am insane.
Wow, that pretty much sums me up! I guess those are common characteristics for your average female player.
Now on the topic of trash-talk and such turning off females from this game. Dunno, maybe I'm different, but I think a little trash-talk is fun, of course if it is just between friends and not aimed at the little kids.
I think that the reason most tennage girls dont play is because of that puberty stage. As SLGrib said...we can't ever be associated with something as childish as Pokemon! Like, oh...my god...like...I would just...like...die! But hey, I'm different. I'm probably the ony girl in our school that's not like that, which is probably why I'm, into 'guy stuff' like pokemon. I'm proud to play it too! Heck, I'm an eighth grader who wears pokemon shirts to school! For a teen, you cant get much prouder than that.
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~The Dutchess of York~ :P
And...Lord of the Things! ;)
York Comics league rules, all others will bow down to its greatness muahaha
7th place finisher at the 2002 Columbus Gym Challenge
Yay...finally won a tourney...9/14/02 at York! (hey, it's hard!)AND another one...4/12/03 at York!(go tyrogue)
From: Strongsville, Ohio | Registered: Feb 2002
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GymLeaderPhil
Member # 455
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posted October 07, 2002 01:07 PM
quote:
Originally posted by SD_PokeMom:
Oh, boy. There are lots of reasons, IMHO, why there aren't as many females in any game as males. Some of it has to do with how "comfortable" women/girls feel with competition in general; I've seen girls who would apologize to their opponent every time they k/o'd a Pokémon or won a game...because of the socialization girls get from an early age to be "nice".
Some of it has to do with...yes...player decorum. I know this has been said over and over on the boards, but if a league/game store has a non-"friendly" "feel" to women and girls, they won't shop/buy/play there. I speak from experience; there was a store in my area that was rampantly unfriendly to women and girls. Sorry, I won't shop at a store with employees that treat me like I'm stupid and only a "wallet" for my kids when I'm shopping for game supplies. Worse yet, this store had employees who processed debit card transactions for MORE than the purchase, and pocketed the difference; this happened to a mom in my league. Needless to say the word spread throughout our league families, and no one shopped there anymore...
IMHO, there are no easy answers here because it depends on many factors. This isn't just a Pokémon thing, either; I've seen this same question on the Magic meta-board.
SD_Pokemom sums this up.
I was at the Ft. Lauderdale STS Qualifier in 2001. This was the 14 and Under Qualifier and I wasnt doing so hot as I did in Orlando. I think it was round three when I was paired up with a young girl who looked about 11. She looked very scared and she did in fact apologized to me whenever she did something. In the end I won all six prizes. I then put my arm out and said good game after one of the judges picked up the match result slip. She got up and started crying... I then quickly gathered my stuff and got my binder from my backpack. I found the girl and let her pick any card out of there that she wanted. She stopped crying and shook my hand.
Another scenario involves another individual that I know personally here in Florida (I wont say who because certain people from these boards were involved). She was at one of the STS Events, I think it was the West Coast one. This female played in the 15+ Division and at one point went against a well known male player here at these boards. The male said to my friend something to the fact:
"I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to beat you."
He ran Rocket Zapdos, my female friend ran Clefable. Needless to say the male player then called a judge as soon as she tried to use Metronome on Rocket Zapdos. Judge replied "Tough luck, it works". She won and this well know player stormed off. Since then she has used the term "west coast beating" ![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
This is why the enviroment is not so friendly for female players. Some of the same people who trash talk players and my friend still continue to bash others apparently. But its always funny when you get to own them after you murder their deck.
-Phil
[ October 07, 2002, 01:08 PM: Message edited by: GymLeaderPhil ]
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From: Where ever the ladies take me | Registered: Feb 2001
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Hairy Clefairy
Member # 108416
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posted October 07, 2002 01:40 PM
Hmmm.
For the last two or so years at my league we have had Jody and her mother Debbie visit our league. Sometimes all that has happened is that they have played against each other with the same Wigglytuff vs. Alakazam combination, and declined playing any other people. This may be seen as quite strange but they are really nice members of our league.
Very recently I tried with success to get them to integrate more with the others at league. I still am running by the Year 2 books. changed Morty's challenge for them to, 'you must play other members of the league'. In fact, I changed virtually all of their challenges! At our league if you finish a challenge you get a promo card as we never got the stickers in the UK.
Well it seems to have worked, but what's been the biggest success I hav e seen for female players playing at leagues? Team Multiplay was the answer. First, they played together, and just recently I teamed up with Debbie against Jody and another boy who plays at league quite late in the session. It was great fun and all of us really enjoyed it!
So to summarise my thoughts about women in OP:
1. Male players have to prove their worth before they are happy, females play moreso for the social interaction and aren't too bothered about proving their worth against other players... unless they really do win, which when they do, they thoroughly enjoy it, particularly beating male opponents.
2. Female players are a lot more into the strategy side of the game while wanting the deck to be meaningful and reflective of both their character and their most preferred Pokémon that are still often very good Pokémon to play e.g. Wigglytuff. Male players tend to go for the beatdown type of decks that slaughter everything in sight and risk all to win with loads of trainers eg. Gatr, Magcargo.
3. Females socially gain more out of Team Battles than male players, who often stay silent during crucial periods of Team Battles, do.
Females who play, know how to enjoy the game and know how to play for fun moreso than male players do. I have always enjoyed playing against female players and they are always welcomed, even encouraged, to participate at my league and tournaments I help out at.
PS from experience younger females (10-) are just as competitive as younger males...
-fK
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Freddy K. within circles - 2 1337 4 U - AIM TEFr3ddyK
UK Challenge Finals 2001 & 2002 Judge
Sweden & Germany STSQ winner 2001
Features writer for Pokémon World magazine - go buy!
Click to visit the website of the UK's National Pokémon Team, Team UK
From: England UK | Pokémon League - Burger King, High St, Slough Sundays 10am-2pm | Registered: Oct 2002
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Hairy Clefairy
Member # 108416
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posted October 07, 2002 01:44 PM
Footnote - I hope my daughter reverses the trend. I've never been to Hawaii... two months old and she's just about managed to hold a Pokémon coin... ![[Love]](graemlins/love.gif)
-fK
[ October 07, 2002, 01:55 PM: Message edited by: Hairy Clefairy ]
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Freddy K. within circles - 2 1337 4 U - AIM TEFr3ddyK
UK Challenge Finals 2001 & 2002 Judge
Sweden & Germany STSQ winner 2001
Features writer for Pokémon World magazine - go buy!
Click to visit the website of the UK's National Pokémon Team, Team UK
From: England UK | Pokémon League - Burger King, High St, Slough Sundays 10am-2pm | Registered: Oct 2002
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Randyrho
Member # 64307
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posted October 07, 2002 07:19 PM
We have a little group of four players here who get together on Friday at a local Wendy’s for a friendly game of Pokemon. We are all that remains of two large Toys R Us Leagues that, at one time had the very best Pokemon players in the area. When a tournament rolls around, we meet and discuss deck stratigies, new cards, new rulings and such. Our chief deck builder is female. She comes up with the most interesting rogue decks and ideas how to play them as anyone I’ve ever seen, and they work. She’s an excellent player as well, whooping most of the male opponents she faces. Without her, we wouldn’t have the group.
I’ve had occasion to play several males after she’s finished serving them up some humble pie. They have a hard time accepting that a “girl” beat them. A few try to lay claim to her creativity, “That deck was my idea”. Some whine, “She just got lucky”. I chuckle, because she can’t flip a heads to save her soul. The sour grapes just roll off her back, but I’m sure this attitude has discouraged many an independent female from continuing the game.
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Pokémon Professor - March 28, 2002
From: Swissvale, PA. | Registered: Feb 2002
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LizardOTC
Member # 124
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posted October 07, 2002 08:20 PM
I also recently started up a league to replace a defunct TRU league. At our most recent season-ending tournament there were 32 players, of whom 7 were girls and one was a Mom. That's 25% of my players!
My daughter is among the girls there, and she has gotten some grief. There has been NO trashtalk whatsoever since the day when an older boy said to my daughter, "you suck at this game because you're a girl." 
The boy who said that is still at my league (after a sincere apology to my daughter). She has beaten that boy since then... 
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"No! Try not. Do. Or do not. There is no try." -Yoda
"Sewage Portrayed As Meat...It's not just for breakfast anymore!" -LizardOTC
"Like a bad tooth and an unsteady foot is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble." - Proverbs 25:19
From: The Vast Midwestern Waste | Registered: Feb 2001
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tick
Member # 65651
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posted October 10, 2002 11:09 AM
As a father, I cannot pretend to have any deep analytical insight as to why there are fewer girls in this game. However, my observations tells me that the problem is not limited to players in tournaments, nor does it only affect an older age group.
I believe the root of the problem lies with the fact that girls are simply not as interested as boys in TCGs in general. It has nothing to do with organized play, age, or attitudes. I am in no way discounting any of those factors as to why a female player would be turned off to Pokemon. I am simply stating that there is less interest to begin with.
My son is a second grader who have been playing Pokemon for about a year now. Before he learned how to play properly, he and his friends would make up their own rules and play a fantasy game during recess or after school. He and his friends are now doing the same with You-Be-Know.
The thing that I have noticed, is that this group of "players" never included any girls. It is not that the girls are excluded. They are simply not interested. I have seen this phenomenon when my son was in kinder-garden, before any gender social conditioning has really taken hold, so I can't really attribute this to conditioning of any sort.
It is a fact of life that young boys just like playing with guns, and young girls just like playing with dolls. I can only conclude that TCGs are just a boy thing.
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You know Arthur, when evil is afoot and you don't have any arms, you gotta use your head. And when evil is ahead and you're behind, you gotta do the legwork. But when you can't get a leg up, you gotta be hip...
From: The City | Registered: Feb 2002
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