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Meryl's Notes Blog

Things wordy, geeky, and webby

Designs Revealing Gender

Friday, August 19th, 2005 at 7:43 AM Category: Meryl's Notes Blog No comments

Do you think personal Web sites give a hint as to its designer’s gender? Does this site look like a male or female designed it? Never mind the lack of talent.

Interllectual.com poses this question. I use orange and blue. I’m female. Meryl is a girl’s name! Zeldman used orange in his earlier designs. Personally, I don’t think there is a “look” that specifies a person’s gender.

Some females might give their sites a feminine look, but I’ve also seen a couple of talented male designers use what people think is feminine in their designs.

Since my first child was born, I’ve tried to raise my kids as humans rather than boy / girl. I learned that there is a bit of a wiring thing happening and they gravitate toward things “stereotypical” of their gender whether or not a parent helps things along. It’s back to the old nature vs. nurture argument and to me, it takes BOTH not one or the other.

I had to write a paper on this in college and PICK ONE of them. I hated that because I support both. Nature is what makes a plant look and behave the way it does while nurture ensure it thrives or tries to help it thrive if it was a troubled plant. Boy, this is too deep for a Friday entry.