I, like many other enjoyers of fun, love a good old-fashioned night of board games with my pals. But you know what I would love EVEN MORE? A good old-fashioned night of FEMINIST THEMED board games.
In my opinion there’s no greater social gathering than one that involves games which advocate gender equality/mock men’s rights activists. Some folks might be wondering if feminist skewed board games would in fact be amusing in the slightest since we (feminists) have been labeled by certain individuals (idiots) as “killjoys” with face muscles incapable of forming anything but overly large frowns. I promise you this is not the case. Feminists like partaking in tomfoolery, merrymaking and hijinks as well. I mean, just look at the below list of board games I conjured up and tell me these wouldn’t be a LAUGH RIOT to play with the whole family, particularly with your sexist uncle (you know the one). I implore you Hasbro, Milton Bradley, and Parker Brothers to start manufacturing these gems in the ASAP.
The Suffragettes of Catan
Players assume the role of a suffragette, and fight for women’s right to vote on the island of Catan. Along the way you acquire allies, trade petitions with other suffragettes and participate in a fun protest or two.
#ChessAllWomen
The playing pieces are not kings, or queens, or pawns they are instead inspirational tweets from the hashtag #YesAllWomen. It’s a more positive twist on the game in that you don’t “capture” your opponent’s pieces you “favourite” them and once you’ve become victorious by “favouriting” all of their tweets you do not say “checkmate” you say “most retweeted today.”
Pussy Riot Risk
The object of the game is to occupy every territory on the board by staging unauthorised guerilla performances in unusual public locations that defend LGBT rights, promote feminist views, and ridicule Vladimir Putin.
Guess Who…’s a powerful woman in politics?
Swap out the classic characters of Herman, Sam, and Max for Elizabeth Warren, Olivia Chow, and Hillary Clinton. But in this version you won’t be asking questions about their physical features you’ll be asking questions about their achievements in government because their appearance is irrelevant, am I right or am I RIGHT?!
Scrabble with Lupita Nyong’o, Amy Poehler, and Ellen
You don’t need any other players to join you for this game of Scrabble because it comes with three virtual players in the form of Lupita Nyong’o, Amy Poehler, and Ellen. The game includes cardboard cutouts of them, their recorded voices responding to your generic questions, and their “scent” in a bottle. Other virtual players include: Gloria Steinem, Gabourey Sidibe, Judith Butler, Melissa McCarthy, and Laverne Cox.
Sexist Snakes and Corporate Ladders
You win once you make it to the top of the corporate ladder, however along the way there are asshole, chauvinist snakes that will bring you down. Don’t let them deter you. You got this.
bell hooks Backgammon
It’s a regular game of Backgammon except you play it as bell hooks would: with fierce strategy, strong opinion, and by “eradicating the ideology of domination that permeates Western culture”.
Clue: Case of the Missing Female Engineer
A female engineer has gone missing from the workforce and you need to figure out who the culprit is. Could it be “the patriarchy” with “not encouraging young girls to pursue math and sciences” in the “education system”? Sounds like a possible suspect.
Beyonce’s Monopoly
You choose your Bey persona playing piece (Destiny’s Child Bey, Sasha Fierce, Pregnant Bey) and instead of buying properties you release records (the gold ones being the most coveted). There are no hotels but you can build concert tours and music videos to increase value and you can also purchase two utilities (Blue Ivy and Jay Z). Your chance cards include “You starred in a movie. Collect a Million Dollars” and “You won a Grammy. Collect Respect from Your Fellow Artists.” “Going to Jail” is replaced with “Taking a Hiatus” and you collect $200 every time you pass “All the Single Ladies.”
13 “Support Each other” Drive
Unlike 13 Dead End Drive you are NOT striving to kill the other players you are striving to support one another as women should. You win by encouraging TO THE MAX.
Feminist Balderdash
You make-up definitions for words that are often incorrectly defined such as “Slut”, “Feminism”, and “Bossy” and attempt to get as a close as possible to the correct feminist definition, which is read aloud at the end of each round. The definitions will surely enlighten some rather privileged players who might be misinformed.
Pro-choice Parcheesi
You don’t roll a dice and have it determine your fate, you make your own decisions with your own body and move wherever you like. There is no winner or loser and wherever you go is the right choice. Warning: This may be less of a game and more of an empowerment seminar.
Twister: With Consent
You spin the wheel and land on a colour but before putting your hand on the mat you ask your fellow player whose butt you might encounter for permission to put your hand there and possibly encounter their butt. Nothing sexier than an intimate game of twister that includes hot consent.
The Game of a Woman’s Life
In this game we simulate a woman’s ideal travels through life, which include getting her first period in a non-embarrassing location, going to university if she chooses, not having to deal with sexism in the workplace, going on maternity leave without it jeopardizing her career OR never having to explain to naive individuals why she doesn’t want children, proudly breastfeeding in public if she’s got a baby, getting paid the same salary as her male counterparts, and loving her body ‘cause she’s beautiful exactly as she is.
Operation: Pleasuring A Vagina
You will not be removing any random objects or strange organs from a mechanical body in this game. You will be adding elements of pleasure to a big old electric vagina. Elements such as “Clitoral Stimulation” and “Finding the G Spot”. Whenever you use them incorrectly you will hear a loud buzz, informing you that you are not pleasuring the vagina at all and in fact angering it.
Dream Job Phone
Instead of talking to your “dream man” you conduct phone interviews for your “dream career” and venture to determine what that is. The first player to solve the mystery booksthe gig and then proceeds to hire the remaining players on as their employees ‘cause everyone deserves the opportunity to succeed.
Conservative Bills Battleship
The aim of this game is to sink the “war on women” bills that conservatives are attempting to pass in government. You will feel amazing as you hear yourself make strong statements like “I just sunk your restriction on access to abortion clinics!”
Sooo… who’s coming over for game night? I have dips!!!