Overview

People have been playing games for centuries, be it on stone tablets or wood. Games like Clue and Monopoly are relevant to this day. 

Games and toys aren’t simply for fun but even serve as learning aids: trivia, strategy, set-making, accumulation, chance, etc. The MGHL at Washington University houses a variety of games. I looked at accumulation board games like Dr. Kildare, Ben Casey M.D., and the Barbie Game from the 1960s. In these games, I noticed gender stereotypes, visual tropes, and certain game design elements. Overall, the games were sexist, portraying domesticity and reliance for girls, and career-building for boys.