In the new game of Monopoly, women make more than men

[Gingersnap]

In the new game of Monopoly, women make more than men
By Leah Asmelash, CNN

Updated 9:14 AM ET, Tue September 10, 2019
Ms. Monopoly is meant to celebrate women's empowerment by giving women a head start in the game.

Ms. Monopoly is meant to celebrate women's empowerment by giving women a head start in the game.
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One of America's most recognizable board games is getting an upgrade. Hasbro is debuting a new game celebrating women's empowerment -- Ms. Monopoly, marking the first time in Monopoly history when a new mascot will be featured on the cover of the game.

The twist? In Ms. Monopoly, female players will get more money.

Unlike the classic game, women will collect 240 Monopoly bucks when they pass "go," while male players will collect the usual 200. The idea is to create a game where women make more than men, the first game to do so, according to Hasbro.

It's "a fun new take on the game that creates a world where women have an advantage often enjoyed by men," the company said in a statement. "But don't worry, if men play their cards right, they can make more money too."

That's not the only difference, though. Instead of buying property, players will invest in inventions created by women -- things like Wi-Fi and chocolate chip cookies. But no worries -- mainstays such as jail, luxury taxes and chance cards are still included.

The announcement of Ms. Monopoly comes a few weeks after the company received criticism for Monopoly Socialism -- a tongue-in-cheek game that sparked debate for its flippant handling of socialism. Hasbro also debuted Monopoly for Millennials in 2018, poking fun at stereotypical millennial trends such as avocado toast and veganism.

Ms. Monopoly will be available for pre-order beginning September 10.

Most novelty Monopoly games I've seen are just superficially different - the game play is still the same. Giving an advantage to some players seems to send the wrong message: women have to cheat to play.

The game has never really taken into account qualities like age, sex, or education. That's part of the appeal since 12 year olds can own railroads and bankrupt other players 50 years their senior. The rules apply the same for everyone and the play is transparent (mostly).

It's also kind of weird because most of the die-hard Monopoly fans I've met are boys or men who would probably still win easily over girls and women who were average players even if they started with more cash.

CNN

[phillygirl]

Dumb idea, imo. I learned Monopoly at a young age. I can still remember my father offering to trade me two pretty purple properties for one blue park place property. My mother would yell at him not to "cheat the kids" and that I was "only 8". My father would caution her that I had to make up my own mind on deals that were good or bad. Having parents that played board games all the time with us, in a cut throat manner, was a good thing. The last time I played monopoly with the kids, suddenly all the kids (they're mostly in their twenties now, with one stray 18 year old) all ganged up on me, offering up all their money to the one kid that looked like he had a shot at beating me. I called foul. They did it anyway. I still won!

[Norm dePlume]

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[Billy Jingo]

Georgism is my favorite economic theory.

[Gingersnap]

The game was derived from Magie's 'Landlord' game but the intention and the rules of the game are almost directly contrary to her vision of the purpose of the game.

She was promoting a very specific taxation theory and was actually attempting to educate players by offering two sets of rules to the game: one set where all players benefit from wealth creation and one set where only player can win the game using monopolies. She was against monopolies, if this needs to be clearer.

Unsurprisingly, kids and college students found the ruthless monopoly game play WAY more exciting than the educational 'we're all in this together' game play. There is much intrigue over the exact history of the game's subsequent additional patent and distribution but that's just of interest to game buffs. Even Magie herself was totally uninterested in the game's profitability. She was solely interested in promoting the tax scheme.

The tax scheme is largely forgotten or subsumed into into later taxation ideas. Whatever appeal it had to economists, it certainly didn't to actual players. This is not a big surprise since human beings simply adore competitive games and this isn't wholly confined to men and boys. Many women will play winner-take-all games (and play ruthlessly) but may also play different games from men in some cultures or sometimes favor games where a tie or not losing is an option (looking at you, Mahjong).

It isn't really important who "invented" the game since the rules and object have changed so radically. Whist generated a ton of popular card games that are still played today but they aren't whist games - they use some of the rules and devices of whist play. The play itself looks like our Bridge (kind of) but in the way barrel racing and Dressage both use horses and riders - they aren't the same competition.

What kids like about Monopoly as they grow into it is the opportunity to blindside some older, inattentive player or lording lucky breaks over siblings, cousins, and friends. Absolutely not the intention Magie had when she patented 'Landlord'.

Source: play a ton of games, married to a player/gamer, Henry George Org

[Norm dePlume]

For what it's worth, you can read the rules of the various incarnations of the game here.

This could qualify as one of the things you might not know were invented by women.

[bandersnatch45]

Meh. They'll still want to marry a man who has greater net worth than they.

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[Billy Jingo]

Meh. They'll still want to marry a man who has greater net worth than they.

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And a man will want to marry a woman with bigger tits than he has so it all balances out.

[bandersnatch45]

And a man will want to marry a woman with bigger tits than he has so it all balances out.

That worked out pretty well, didn't it?

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[Gingersnap]

Given the option, most over-30 men will take the woman with a higher income but all 15 year old boys will go for cup size.

You should always get color groups, 3 houses (suck it hotels), and railroads.

Regardless of age (yours or theirs), taking your shirt off (if genetic female) in a particularly dramatic moment will ensure a win against genetic boys or men. Queso dip and tortilla chips essentially works but simply disrobing shortens up the game.

Will not work for Bridge. Sadly.

[Celeste Chalfonte]

The only board game I really like is Scrabble. Never cared for Monopoly. An extra $40 wouldn't change that.

[Lady Marva]

Nuts. Yet another paternalistic "woman need head start" ploy.