It's a Girl Thing!?

When looking for a new game for my Nintendo DSi, I was browsing the Nintendo website when I came across a new game for young girls: "It's a Girl Thing!: My Boyfriend."

The description: "Create the love story of your dreams – choose from 5 amazing guys. Which gorgeous guy is the one for you? Charm, chat up and chill out with each different guys. Will you find your true love?

• Put on your coolest outfit and make-up and dance the night away!
• An active life is a healthy life! Have fun working out with your friends.
• Meet up with your best friends to catch up on the latest fashions and hot gossip!
• Enjoy this fun time—with a lot of flirting, relaxing and fun waiting for you…

Okay. Here we go. REALLY? Maybe I should not judge this without actually seeing the game, but somehow I do not think I really need to see it. Let's prepare our young girls to scrutinize themselves to find a relationship. Better yet, let's give them five options of the ideal man. I would be almost afraid to see what the game considers an "amazing guy." REALLY?

I remember when I was younger playing Dream Phone with my sister and cousins (the game that was a warped version of Clue that involved an electronic phone that gave you clues as to which dreamy guy liked you...oh, and any bad moves involved you getting a zit sticker to wear on your face...yea). That was bad enough encouraging girls to giggle and obsess over being liked by a guy. Hmm. And technology continues to make it worse.

Adding to the list of Bratz dolls and poorly written stories of unrealistic young love (read: Twilight...maybe that will be another post), this game cannot possibly be a step forward for image and relationship issues. I am not saying we should never pass along some tips to date within what is consider socially normal. I am saying girls have enough pressure in the world. Can we not keep video games out of it?