Inspiring Resources: The Mary Sue: A Guide to Girl Geek Culture

The Mary Sue: A Guide to Girl Geek Culture

Seeking to revolutionize geek girl culture one witty post at a time, The Mary Sue is a site for women and girls (and guys too) called to unite under the banner of geek culture.

We want simple things, like to be able to visit a comic book store without feeling out of place. To be able to buy a video game without getting the sense that the cashier thinks we’re buying it for someone else...So come one, come all, girls who are geek, guys who are geek, and everything above, below, and in between. We’re call it like we see it, and we’re going to have fun (The Mary Sue, 2011). 

Why is there a need for site like The Mary Sue? Aren’t there enough places for nerdy girls on the Internet already?

Abby:While there are many geek girl sites out there, I feel like there can never be enough. Video games and Star Trek are seen as mainly male interests. If a woman claims to enjoy them, she is an oddity. I never really paid attention to this until reading about PAX this summer and one woman’s refusal to attend. This issue was overblown, by both sides, but it brought a point to mind: How do women fit into the geek culture world? There is either the super nerdy, really awkward girl in elf ears (who are certainly awesome, but I just don’t understand) or the hot chick that the dudes get awkward around.

I am neither of these things (sigh). This website is for the intelligent nerdy chick and awesome for teens who are trying to find where they fit, but a little too self-conscious to go sit with the kids playing Magic: the Gathering.

What some of your favorite features about this site?
Leah: I love how approachable and easy to navigate this site is. The Mary Sue’s posts are presented in a blog format and readers can easily scroll through the newest posts or search, at the top, through older posts. “Popular Posts” are also highlighted on the right hand side of the page.
Abby: I am really happy with the mix of entries. There is funny stuff (e.g. youtube videos and random images of the Gentleman Squid), with some serious posts too (e.g. the high school girl who pretended she was pregnant for six months to see how it changed the way she was perceived). There is something for everyone here and I’m hoping to find time to read all of the posts some day. The site only launched this winter, but there is already so much stuff to look at!

What are two, not to be missed, posts on The Mary Sue?

Abby: “Ten Reasons Not to Mess With Trees (In Honor of Earth Day)” and “Scream: The Feminist-Friendly Horror Franchise”. One of the things I like about this site is that it presents things in a new way. This post on Scream is fascinating. I would not have thought it was a feminist series, but, really, all of the ladies in these films are pretty bad a**. As for the trees; I’ve been terrified of them ever since The Wizard of Oz. This just told me I wasn’t alone.

Leah: “How to Time Travel, Clone Dinosaurs, and Make a Lightsaber According to IKEA” (so informative) and “Grandmother Insists: ‘No More Questions!’ [Video]”. Grandmother Insists is a great introduction to StoryCorps (for those who aren’t familiar with the organization) and an excellent reminder that old people are often stashing away some of the the best material.


Who would you recommend this site to?

Leah: Who wouldn’t I recommend this site to? Female, male, young and old (well maybe not too young...high-school and up), this site is empowering, humorous, smart, fun and this list of positives could just go on. If you haven’t seen it yet, go!

Why do you think this site might appeal to guys?

Leah: Ummmm....because it is hilarious! Seriously with posts like Jersey Shore in the Style of Oscar Wilde [Video] and Boba Fett Playing Geek Anthems on an Accordian [Video], guys would find a lot of the content on The Mary Sue to be equally entertaining. It’s not that this site wouldn’t appeal to guys (especially since most of the content The Mary Sue has been considered traditionally male in it’s appeal) it’s that this site creates a place for women to openly rejoice in enjoying these same types of materials. Not because their boyfriend or some cool guy at school likes them, but because they like them.

Can it be used in programming with teens?
Leah: I think The Mary Sue may be better used as a resource for teens rather than programing. That being said it may serve as a fun jumping off point for encouraging “geek girl culture” in schools, libraries, community centers and in other teen related media. Personally I hope The Mary Sue helps to spurn further geek girl groups and events. A girl can dream right?