A feminist geek’s letter to ToyFare Magazine
Dear ToyFare Magazine,
The June issue (#131) of your magazine has a feature article entitled “The Big Picture Show” which boasts that “ToyFare has everything a fanboy needs to know about the 10 biggest summer releases.”
But what about the fanGIRLS, ToyFare? Don’t we also need to know the important things about this summer’s movies?
I know that most of your staff and probably most of your readers are male, but come on. There’s no need to alienate your already under-recognized female readers by using gender-specific terminology.
It’s not that I have a problem with the word “fanboy” (in fact, I love it). I just wish that you would have been more inclusive with your wording. Perhaps you could have used “fanboys and fangirls” instead.
Too wordy, you say?
Well then, I would like to propose a new, non-gender-specific name for fanboys and fangirls. How about “fangeeks?” Yes, I like that.
I would also like the fangirls out there to move away from the sidelines and show these fanboys that we’re not just pretty faces in frilly dresses (or black leather, as the case may be) and that they’re not the only ones who collect toys MIB, read comics, enjoy OCD geek speak, and drool over wonderfully geeky magazines.
Sincerely,
Yvette Beaudoin
Feminist Geek Girl & Loyal ToyFare Subscriber
