Ms. Monopoly: A Bankrupt Idea (From Rampage)
I am proud to be one of two sports editors for my school’s newspaper, The Rampage. For its most recent issue, I wrote an opinion piece called “Ms. Monopoly: A Bankrupt Idea” about Hasbro’s new game, Ms. Monopoly. I’ve decided to share the article I wrote here as well as I feel it is an important topic that has not gotten much media attention. It is a good assessment of how far our society still has to go in regard to gender equality and representation. I also attribute credit to the hardworking editing staff of The Rampage who revised my article for press. Thank you!
Ms Monopoly: A Bankrupt Idea
On September 9, 2019, Hasbro Game and Toys announced Ms. Monopoly, the newest installment in their Monopoly game franchise. Hasbro promotes the game as a game where “women make more than men do.” Now, a few months out of the game’s release, it is safe to say that Hasbro’s new game was not a million dollar idea.
Hasbro’s website calls Ms. Monopoly “the first game where women make more than men” This slogan in itself is troubling, as it promotes the message that women make more than men, as opposed to sending a message that men and women can be equal profiters.
The game also has questionable rules that also promote gender inequalities. The starts with female players receiving more starting money than the male players, as female players start with $1,900 while male players start with only $1,500. Female players also collect $240 when they pass “Go”, while male players only get the standard $200 of regular Monopoly.
These new rules imply a dangerous notion that women need more money or a “head start” against men to be able to make more money than them. This is sending a poor message to young girls as well as young boys, the target demographics of the game, as it is telling them that girls will always need an unfair advantage to keep up with boys.
Ms. Monopoly has also tried to modernize the game from its original variation, replacing railroads with rideshare companies (like Uber), and replacing utilities with Wi-Fi. It has also substituted its iconic real estate properties with products and businesses that were created by women such as chocolate chip cookies and female athletic shapewear.
While it is a noble idea of Hasbro to highlight women entrepreneurship, they should have found a way to do it without having to completely rework the rules and structure of Monopoly to make women succeed. The message of the game is completely out of sync with modern society, as it ultimately undermines what a woman is capable of doing in business. Girls have been beating boys in the classic Monopoly game since its origins; they did not need their own version to win.
-Emma