Some girly Web sites. This is just some Web sites aimed at girls, I doubt any of which are super popular, but they have things and ideas we could borrow.

(Most of which are just AIMed at teenage girls, though I assume these hit a younger audience than they aim for).

BeingGirl

A strange Web site (no doubt owned and sponsored by Tampax) that’s obessed with girls’ periods. In fact, most of the questions in the profile you have to fill out are about use of feminine hygiene products. Kind of creepy. There’s even a locker function!!! Although nothing like Kate’s Stalker Locker. It’s basically just a place to keep info about your tampons.

The Web site offers free music downloads and monthly Podcasts with tips about shaving and other female things. Seriously, not trying to get creepy here. There are polls and quizzes, product descriptions of different shaving and/or feminine hygiene products. It really just seems like a big advertisement but some ideas like free products from sponsors and free music downloads seem like a good way to get people hooked into a Web site. We should keep that in mind.

GirlPower

“Welcome to the homepage for Girl Power!, the national public education campaign sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to help encourage and motivate 9- to 13- year-old girls to make the most of their lives. Girls at 8 or 9 typically have very strong attitudes about their health, so Girl Power! seeks to reinforce and sustain these positive values among girls ages 9-13 by targeting health messages to the unique needs, interests, and challenges of girls.” (According to the Web site)

Once again, the site has a locker thing. This one is more like Locker Stalker… it has a diary and a scrap book and what’s new section, though it doesn’t seem like you can personalize it. It looks to just be a page on the Web site.

The Web site is dedicated to research and government offered advice to improving the quality of life of younger-aged girls. It has advice about health, alcohol, drugs and other things. It has a coping with problems section, and other sections dedicated to empowering girls in things like Science, Math and Technology which Andrea posted, girls lose interest in around the age the Web site is targeted at. Not very hip though. Could use some work.

GirlSite Network

"Imagine a community of girls on the Net who speak their minds, share their ideas and make lasting friendships." —Holly Holmberg Brooks, Founder of GirlSite (From the Web site)

The Web site (which claims to be a non-profit) has tons of articles ranging from everything to health issues, to poetry and interviews with documentary makers. It’s the closest Web site to having actual news I’ve come across so far. Anyway, it’s odd because it acts like it’s a network of girls, when I didn’t find any place where you could sign up to join. I feel like you are just supposed to e-mail the editors if you want to write something.

Once again, music is an essential part of the site. (They have a section called ReelNews – though that’s about music not video mashing up, don’t worry.)

Girly Nation

A site that claims to have about 80,000 hits a month, which doesn’t seem like a ton to me. It’s about fashion and style and aimed at maybe a little bit older girl. It claims to be a girls own personal stylist through the internet though it mostly pushes images of beautiful super models and runway looks, along with make up and hair styled on skinny models. Some parts really need updating like the Runway Trends hasn’t been updated since Winter of ’01-’02. Pretty lame. Other stuff seems to be up-to-date though.


That’s all for now. Going to do some actually field research later this week (aka hang out in the back to school section at Target and Abercrombie kids in my tween-filled hometown mall).