Pro Girl, Girl Friendly, Gender Neutral, Not Good For Girls.

PRO GIRL

Made specifically for girls and/or actively encourages girls to participate in areas beyond stereotyped roles.

• girls are featured in content and images in positive, active, non-stereotyped roles.
• girls are featured as contributors to content, images, and the world in general.
• girls and women's perspectives are present, if not dominant.
• positive role models for girls are featured.
• girls are encouraged to speak up, give opinions.

GIRL FRIENDLY

Girls may not be the focus, but they are visible with active roles within the site to the same degree (if not more so) that boys are.

• girls are present as often as boys in content and images in positive, active, non-stereotyped ways.
• girls are featured as often as boys as contributors to content, images, and the world in general.
• topics appeal to girls and are presented from a point of view that girls relate to.
• there is nothing in the content or images that girls will find offensive (i.e. sexist remarks)

GENDER NEUTRAL

Gender is not an issue.

• neither gender is represented in content or images.
• content and images are equally appealing to both genders.

NOT GOOD FOR GIRLS

Stereotypes for girls are promoted without alternative roles.

• girls have negative role models
• girls are discouraged from participating
• girls are unnecessarily omitted from content and images.
• girls are not encouraged or included in ways that boys are.

1. Why rate Internet sites for girls?

Being a girl is a powerful experience and we want girls to feel proud of their gender and their strengths.

Rating sites

• leads girls directly to content that promotes high self esteem.
• encourages girls to accept non-traditional topic areas as their domain.
• helps girls avoid content that consciously or subconsciously demeans their potency and/or potential
• lets girls know that there are people out there who care about and support them.
• encourages girls to support each other through a sense of community.
• encourages creators of Websites and related industries to evaluate their representations of girls and to put forth positive material for girls.

2. What is a stereotype?

A stereotype is an unchanging traditional idea or concept. Because a stereotype is by definition unchanging, girls who don't like to play in traditional ways (e.g., with dolls, makeup, jewelry, etc.) are excluded. According to the stereotype, they aren't "girls." What are they? In our society, they are sometimes called "tomboys."

Girl Tech's goal is to teach awareness of the stereotypes so that those who like dolls and those who have different interests can be girls with no label attached. To achieve this, we need to make positive role models and experiences easily accessible to all girls.

3. What about girls who like "stereotyped" things?

Many girls do like traditional play, fashion, etc. and there is nothing wrong with that so long as they know they have other choices. Stereotypical roles and play patterns are mainstream and widely available to girls and those who enjoy them should have no trouble satisfying their needs. Some of our accepted sites include traditional roles for girls, but they also promote alternatives.