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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mercurius" data-source="post: 5737819" data-attributes="member: 59082">Given that I am neither an a) women or a b) girl, I can only say so much about the subject. But I think it is a worthy discussion to have.First of all, the fact that D&D has never drawn a huge female audience may not as much be something intrinsic to the medium as it is a failing on the part of its publishers, both in terms of marketing and design. Why do I say that? Because, as far as I understand it, fantasy literature is just as popular if not more so with females; it is science fiction that is much more popular with males. Why shouldn't this translate to RPGs? The fact that it doesn't at all seems like something to look into and may have something to do with both the image/reputation of RPGs and the goal or primary focus of RPGs.I'm also going to posit something that hopefully won't offend anyone (at least no more than a slight tickling irk). It is my sense that RPGs attract nerdy and non-nerdy males alike but only, or mainly, nerdy females but not non-nerdy females. Replace "nerdy" with "geeky" or "gamerish" and you get the point - I'm talking about folks for whom Geekery is a lifestyle, those who inhabit Geekdom. There are plenty of otherwise "normal" or at least nondescript males that play D&D--I should know as I'm one of them (Actually, I'm far from "normal" but my appearance and mannerisms do not give people any reason to think that I have a bookshelf and a half of RPGs sequestered in my loft office, or that I spend too much time on forums such as EN World, or that I play in a regular D&D group).So my point is this: I don't see RPGs appealing to females that aren't seriously into other aspect of Geek Culture; why that is, I'm not entirely sure. It may be that "playing" is more acceptable in our (Western, especially American) culture than it is for females, at least in the form that RPGs take. Now the fact that Geek Culture has trickled throughout the mainstream may soften this somewhat, but I just don't see many females--particularly beyond their adolescence--picking up a book with a Dragonborn on it.How to attract more females? That is hard to say. I'd love to hear from some of the females on EN World. But again, it may be that the "gamer stigma" is more daunting to a female than a male. I have found, however, that in the few times not that I've played an RPG with a "non-nerdy" female, they have not only enjoyed the experience but approached the game in a refreshingly un-jaded way; this may have had more to do with their lack of experience than their gender, however.I've got to go cook the Tofurky....more later.</blockquote>

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