For the past 24 hours or so, a Twitter hashtag, #1ReasonWhy, has been used to explain why there are not many women in the gaming industry. It has been used to highlight personal examples provided by both women and men who have observed or been a part of sexist actions or words. The main focus has been on women in the gaming industry.
The personal stories run the range from harassment to being mistaken for a male colleague's secretary to being groped at trade shows to everything else in between. There are simply too many intriguing Tweets to see here, but PC Gamer has shone a spotlight on a few of the more notable encounters.
Two new hashtags have popped up in the wake of last night. #1ReasonMentor is being used to provide advice to those struggling with sexism and #1ReasonToBe allows those in the industry inform others that working in the game industry isn't always terrible and full of sexist remarks.
(via PC Gamer)
The personal stories run the range from harassment to being mistaken for a male colleague's secretary to being groped at trade shows to everything else in between. There are simply too many intriguing Tweets to see here, but PC Gamer has shone a spotlight on a few of the more notable encounters.
Tara Brannigan, Popcap’s Community Marketing Manager, stated that, “I busted my ass to get a promotion. First response to it happening was that I only got it because I ‘have nice tits’.” And Caryn Vainio recounts the abuse she’s faced in pursuing her career. “Because I’ve been called a bitch, a whore, a cunt, fat, and a lesbian for playing and wanting to make games.”
Filamena also revealed that, as a woman, she faces assumptions from clients as to what she can and can’t do. “When I get freelancing work, I’m told ‘don’t do the mechanics, we’ll handle that.’ I’m lazy for not resisting that.” The composer Laura Shigihara, whose music appears in Plants vs. Zombies and To The Moon, confirms that “no matter how much music I compose, arrange, and produce, people still consistently assume all I do is sing.” (...)
The received opinion that the gaming audience is predominantly male (and hormonally childish) is clearly still a factor in the games that are being developed. According to Jane McGonigal, “there’s not enough investment in AAA games about something other than war, cowboys, football, cars. Sorry, but it’s true.” Gas Powered Games’ Sarah Grissom noted that “the metrics team was shocked to discover that girls liked our game at all. Weren’t even trying for that ‘demographic’”
It’s an attitude that must be difficult to shift when the loudest voices on the internet can also be the most aggressive and disturbing. Ashly Burch, the creator of the web series Hey Ash, Whatcha Playin’?, says “Because I am confronted with rape or violence in the comments section of Hey Ash videos.” And only recently, Anita Sarkeesian received death threats in response to her Kickstarting a video series that explored gender tropes in games.
Filamena also revealed that, as a woman, she faces assumptions from clients as to what she can and can’t do. “When I get freelancing work, I’m told ‘don’t do the mechanics, we’ll handle that.’ I’m lazy for not resisting that.” The composer Laura Shigihara, whose music appears in Plants vs. Zombies and To The Moon, confirms that “no matter how much music I compose, arrange, and produce, people still consistently assume all I do is sing.” (...)
The received opinion that the gaming audience is predominantly male (and hormonally childish) is clearly still a factor in the games that are being developed. According to Jane McGonigal, “there’s not enough investment in AAA games about something other than war, cowboys, football, cars. Sorry, but it’s true.” Gas Powered Games’ Sarah Grissom noted that “the metrics team was shocked to discover that girls liked our game at all. Weren’t even trying for that ‘demographic’”
It’s an attitude that must be difficult to shift when the loudest voices on the internet can also be the most aggressive and disturbing. Ashly Burch, the creator of the web series Hey Ash, Whatcha Playin’?, says “Because I am confronted with rape or violence in the comments section of Hey Ash videos.” And only recently, Anita Sarkeesian received death threats in response to her Kickstarting a video series that explored gender tropes in games.
Two new hashtags have popped up in the wake of last night. #1ReasonMentor is being used to provide advice to those struggling with sexism and #1ReasonToBe allows those in the industry inform others that working in the game industry isn't always terrible and full of sexist remarks.
(via PC Gamer)
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