Her Universe has announced that message boards will launch on Friday, October 1st, and Star Wars and Sci-Fi fans will have the opportunity to engage in geeky discussions with each other. Among the topics will likely be the Her Universe product line, founded by Ashley Eckstein, voice of Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. The line caters to female fans by offering jewelry and T-shirts designed with women in mind.
The website provides the following quote: “We have been working to build a Her Universe community,” noted Ashley Eckstein. “With the addition of message boards on our website, we hope to create a safe place where fans can connect. I have heard from so many women who have said that they hide their gender on other message boards, just so their comments and opinions will be taken seriously. On the Her Universe message boards, female fans are encouraged to be themselves.”
I joined Star Wars message boards and chat rooms nearly 15 years ago, and I never felt compelled to hide my gender. I used a screen name based on a female Expanded Universe character, and it was widely known that I was a girl. It never hindered my online experience. It’s unfortunate that others have not been so lucky.
Therefore, it’s great that girls and women can bond over a common interest like Star Wars. The website does not state that guys are not allowed to join in the fun, but the gals do seem to be the target audience.
So long as the boards are moderated well, this idea could be a really good thing. I will certainly log in on Friday to check it out!
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