Because it’s 2016, Hasbro gives Clue a female scientist
First woman in the game to land an official profession hailed as a ‘feminist coup’
Hasbro. In the boardroom. With a news release.
That’s who killed Mrs. White, one of Clue’s primary suspects in the murder of Mr. Boddy. This coming August, the aging housekeeper will be replaced by a much more professionally accomplished character: biologist Dr. Orchid, who holds a PhD in plant toxicology and appears to be of Asian descent.
Her backstory is one of privilege and intrigue. She was “privately schooled in Switzerland until her expulsion following a near-fatal daffodil poisoning incident.” In a shocking twist, she was then home-schooled by Mrs. White. Dun dun dun. In a statement, Hasbro Gaming’s senior vice-president of global marketing said, “It was a difficult decision to say goodbye to Mrs. White but, after 70 years of suspicious activity, we decided that one of the characters had to go. Dr. Orchid is a brilliant new character with a rich back story and links to the Black fortune. We’re sure families around the world will continue to create thrilling murder mysteries with all six suspects inside of the iconic Tudor Mansion.”
Though Hasbro hasn’t publicly stated its reason for the change, many see it as a feminist victory.
Oregonian writer Lizzy Acker called the move a “feminist coup.” As Time pointed out, this makes Dr. Orchid the first female character in the game to have an official profession, as Mrs. Peacock is a widow and socialite, and Miss Scarlet is, well, a mystery.
And it’s something that’s been sought before. A petition launched on Change.com roughly three months ago seeking to give Mrs. White a medical degree was signed by more than 1,800 people. The petition stated: “Hasbro should change Mrs. White to Dr. White. By portraying her as a white-coated physician, surgeon or scientist, it would show support for women in general, and give young girls an everyday image of an accomplished professional who just happens to be a woman.” There’s a slight irony here. Clue was conceived of during the Second World War by English musician Anthony E. Pratt and his wife Elva, and was first released in 1949. Why the pair created the game remains unconfirmed.
What is confirmed is patent paperwork from 1944 showed Mrs. White was originally supposed to be Nurse White, according to the Guardian.
Not everyone is happy with the decision, as seen on Twitter.
Still, it’s in keeping with current trends. Replacing or updating traditional characters with ones that reflect a more diverse set of characteristics is increasingly common in toys and fiction, from dolls to board games to comic books.