But girls shouldn't have to pretend to be something other than what they are. The gaming community should make a conscious effort to self-censor this sort of behavior; the "officials" in these games should take action when reports are filed, and actively seek out the truth. Read logs. I give blanket permission to check into my stuff if I'm being harassed, personally. Give girls who file reports (hey, guys too) that option and investigate. Write to the popular magazines and ask them to make their content a little more female friendly.
I'm not asking for a revolution here. I know most of the above is a pipe dream. Hell, guys can't even get along with themselves in online games; can't really expect them to bend over backwards for the girls. But consider this — the next time you guys wish for a girlfriend/wife who understands your need to spend hours communing with a controller, ask yourself these questions:
Did you help to create an environment that makes gaming unfriendly to girls... and are you willing to do something about it?
(Originally posted at Sudden Nothing).
Article comments
1 - Scoota Rey
Well, like you said, most girls aren't playing video games- because their not interested for them. Like you said, mostly (99.9999999%)guys play shoot 'em ups and "guy" games, so of course you're gonna hear some shit that most guys wouldn't say in reality. You're basically hearing what guys really think.
See, nearly all men, if not every male, is sexist to some degree. Even I have sexist opinions once in a while. Music degrades women. In history, women didn't even get the right to vote until the the 20th century. Nowadays, men still get paid more than women in many good careers, even in America. I don't wanna get any feminists upset, but its natural for men to think that their better than women to some extent. (But some people, like me, try to rid themselves of these thoughts.)
I'm sure when you were kids, you've been subjected to an all-boys club or some kid says: "You can't play, you're a girl.", or some shit like that.
I could give more examples, but my point is, you can talk about discrimination because of sex, but when you, as a woman, go into a place where guys can speak their mind without any real backlash, expect things like that.
2 - LegendaryMonkey
I had the chance to go to the Electronic Entertainment Expo a few years ago (2003), and I talked to a couple of female developers. It was interesting to hear their perspective, and how they were working to try to get girls involved in traditionally male-oriented games.
And it's working. There are clubs, web forums, all-girl development teams (though most unsuccessful). I know a lot more female gamers than I used to; the problem is, most of them hide, like I mentioned above. I think that lends itself to the status quo. Girls should stand up, be obvious, fight for their right to play. Because we do play -- and not just puzzles and RPGs, but everything.
Still, I think it would be awesome for the mags to take a stand, put in a strong female reviewer. I think that would help a lot. But they don't, because they're as entrenched as everyone else.
Here, I think you illustrate the biggest problem of all:
I could give more examples, but my point is, you can talk about discrimination because of sex, but when you, as a woman, go into a place where guys can speak their mind without any real backlash, expect things like that.
Why? Why should we expect that? Guys like you claim you are, guys who try to overcome any "natural" sexism (I don't know how you mean it, but I mean in a culturally entrenched way), do you speak up when you see it happen? Most don't. When that happened to me, I was with my friends, so I was covered. But what about the girls who go in alone? No one speaks up for them... and many of them end up giving up gaming over crap like that.
I don't think we should expect it. I think... we should expect other people to say, "Hey, dumbass, shut your mouth."
I wish I could expect that, at least.
3 - SFC SKI
Well, Scoota's a kid still, maybe he'll change.
What makes a game a "males only" club? Outside of claiing and password protected games, open gaming is open to all.
The online gaming community is populated by a lot of muthy kids, I usually leave my game comments off if I play online.
On the other hand, the real measure in FPS is kicking ass, so if you frag someone you should have presets with things like, "Your death, sponsored by estrogen." Get good at the game, and make it your own mission to frag the mouthiest guy, at any cost.
The Everquest story is about the sorriest thing I have ever heard, and he pays for this privilege, right?
4 - jadester
with regards the harrassment you tend to get in FPSes (name-calling etc.) just ignore it or go to another server. There're bucketfuls of idiots out there who'll pick on anyone they feel like. Of course, you can just give as good as you get, but usually that spurs them on, unless you somehow gain the support of other players on the server.
I have no experience of MMORPGs, but from what i've heard you will struggle to get them to listen. Even harassment in general, let alone whether there's an issue of gender there too
5 - LegendaryMonkey
There's no separation in Halo 2, so far as I know, so another server isn't an option. Even if it were... why switch when you're going to encounter the same thing?
The name-calling IS everywhere, and isn't limited to a particular gender or bias; however, there's an added layer when it comes to the way women are treated. Not only do we get the "equality" of general name-calling (it's shit talk, common in any gaming environment), but we're assumed to be crappy players and apparently whores.
And there's just no reason for it.
SFC... the kid in question (and it was FFXI, not EQ... different crack altogether) was so universally hated on the server that he eventually quit. I wasn't the only one filing reports. And yet the management, as it were, didn't remove him.
Sad.
6 - Scoota Rey
Yo, SFC, what the hell do you mean "he's a kid, maybe he'll change?" I had an educated comment and you detract from it with something like that. I've been on this site as a commenter for two years almost (first as Dwaine AKA Scooter AKA DJ), and when I had a nice, well-planned comment which I actually thought was important, people took me seriously. Now, I reveal that I'm young and now you won't take me seriously anymore.
I believe that I am somewhat of a philosopher. I think about social issues (like this one) with extreme and vigorous intensity and come up with conclusions that I feel are unalterable.
Anyway, back to what the Legendary Monkey was saying. I'm not trying to justify anyone's actions here. What happens to women that are sexist is wrong. I would've told someone sexist like that to fuck off. In a cultually entrenched way, many men are still sexist to some degree, but that doesn't give anyone the right. I do agree with you.
7 - swingingpuss
My husband plays Halo 2 online till late in the night and there are couple of things I have observed-
a)Bad language is used more often in these macho games- Halo and Doom 3 whereas other online games like golf, car racing etc seem to have more civil people around.
b)the women playing Halo have to prove themselves to be as aggressive and mean mouthed as the male players to be accepted.
c)If you are a part of a clan in Halo 2, or make the right friends, then its definately a more enjoyable game but again one has to wade through the murky waters to find the right shoal to swim with.
d)I don't like my husband playing this game or Doom around my toddler as he too tends to use words he doesnt use otherwise.
e)All said and done Halo and doom are highly immersive games and I have stayed away from them because I might get addicted to them
8 - yanyie
hey i really love the games but any way u and me could have something incomments u know wat im saying and by the way my msn is up there if u want to talk to me anyway thats all im going to say for ow so see yea and if u want to give me some hot guys msn plz reply bi
9 - Victor Plenty
Thanks for the vivid reminders of why I don't want to spend any money on acquiring the ability to play Halo 2 online. You've all saved me a bundle.
Sincerely,
a man with no inclination to call women "whores" or listen to anybody else doing it either