Ben-DutkaSo this girl gamer goes on NPR and demands respect . Well, she's entitled, I suppose. If there's any group that can understand being stereotyped, it's the gamers, especially those who grew up during the dawn of the industry.
But has anyone considered the possibility that while male gamers back in the day (when 99% of all gamers on earth were male) were automatically labeled in a certain way, girl gamers today face a new issue…? Well, it begins with the fact that this industry has its roots in male entertainment, and that anything to do with violence or sports is restricted to the male realm. For the guys, it was more of a social issue; i.e., the belief that we only stayed home and played video games because we weren't invited to the latest party, we didn't have a lot of friends, and girls really weren't in the picture.
But for the ladies, it appears to be a very different hurdle, and it goes well beyond a lack of respect when playing online. No, this might be a gender-bending issue of some sort, in that girls who enjoy games must be too…well, tomboy-ish. These days, it's like the chick who was heavy into sports and played basketball with the boys at recess. Most of those over the age of 40 who are entirely clueless about this industry will see a screen, see a gun, automatically assume the entire purpose of the game is to kill people (even if they saw the handgun in Heavy Rain ). And if they see a girl playing it, well, there has to be something wrong, right?
It just isn't lady-like. "She won't meet any nice boys that way," said grandma. And what if all this talk about games making people more violent really kicks in? Yep, the normal girl is changed into an aggressive, creepy girl. I don't know any girls who play games but if I did, I'm willing to bet they've encountered plenty of people who, upon learning they play, immediately assume they're lacking in estrogen. And worse, that they might have an over-abundance of testosterone. As gaming continues to hit a wider demographic with every passing year, I'm afraid that one set of stereotypes (all games are for boys, all games are violent, etc.), will generate another stereotype that specifically offends females.
It's bad enough that girls have to remain silent while playing online; it's even worse when they become pigeon-holed…into a pigeon-hole.
The only ones that I know have pretty cool parents,they are also into metal, manga and of course are labeled like geeks by other females.
Last edited by Oxvial on 1/29/2011 12:30:26 AM
As a girl gamer, I just want to point something out from personal experience. I find that many female gamers I come across online or in person tend to take either a defensive or standoffish position regarding the stereotypes, and it almost always ends up being a means of perpetuating it. (Note that I've no intentions of bring up that small group who 'play it up' like it's a fad, or something). I've found however, that treating the matter 'simply'- for lack of a better word- tends to address the issues that cause such behavior.
"Yes, I play games, I also enjoy watching movies, drawing, and drinking coffee." There, no big deal. Just a statement of fact. I'm a firm believer in the idea that attitudes are contagious, and if gamer girls would stop getting so worked up over the fact that our 'image' is taking a few hits, things would simmer down. Yes, I've had to turn my mic off many a time to avoid unwanted irritation, but I've never thrown a fit, and I've met quite a few guys who are quite cool about the whole thing.
Anyway, what I'm trying to say is, you won't find me hiding my controller or waiving a picket sign anytime soon. ^_^
Last edited by Kiwi of DOOM on 1/29/2011 12:41:32 AM
I just wanted to note that I realize this is about the stereotype itself, and not the girl gamers' feelings regarding it. All the same, I believe the two go hand in hand. It's a vicious circle.
Yes! you pretty much nailed what I was trying to say. Thank you!
In my country they still consider Video games are for KIDS , yes for kids , they still not manage to accept video gaming as a revolution of entertainment , I still find a hard time to convince people that playing video games isnt as bad as TV at all ,
for what I read at the article above , to find a girl playing any any any video game would be so outrageous in their opinions
but at this point I can see that girls are looking for any game that is not a Gender Stereotype , for example my sister is still looking for playing Crash Bandicoot three again on the PS3 and she liked playing little big planet , but in general girls over my country still feel awkward when in it comes to any video game.
Last edited by ABUrabad on 1/29/2011 3:41:08 AM
The stereotyping debate gives me the sh!ts. A gamer is a gamer whether you're a female or a male. At the end of the day if you like video games as a hobby than everyone who plays & enjoys them should fall under one category, & one category only.
Gamers.
People really should get with the times & wise up, sure the hobby is still tilted towards more of a male dominant one but regardless of this there is absolutely no need to split genders because of it. For example; a girl gamer, we don't call ourselves guy gamers do we? We're just gamers in general, so why can't everyone who partakes in this form of entertainment all fall under the one label of just being gamers other than [insert gender here]:gamer?
A gamer is a gamer, end of story.
I also suggest muting your headset to avoid mic wearing, hardened online heroes that spurt hollow threats & try and act like "they're the man" in CoD.
I will never shut up during online game play, I never feel scared or sterotyped I've been very lucky with here and online PSN to not really come in contact with immature males I know once i start winning in some games I know some guys will sign off that just shows me that they cant' handle a good gamer.
Men will never quite me and I say to all female games don't let the Males or kidlits make you feel like you can't play online show them what you got.
Ben great article once again.
Oh and to all the PSX thanks guys for making me feel like one of the guys 🙂
rock on!!
OMG A GIRL STFU.
^_^ Just kidding. All gamers are created equal!
But out of curiosity, do you find that this article is true for your gaming experiences? I've never quite seen it, but all the girls I game with are awesome gamers and good people, so maybe my experiences are biased.
Robochic,
<<<<<to all the PSX thanks guys for making me feel like one of the guys :>>>>
That's because you are one of the guys1
Kudo's to ya!
sony should introduce less gender specific titles and encourage girls to play. eventually, a female gamer will be as commmon as male gamers. alternitively,we could ban all video games and we can all get fresh air. and there wont be a stereotype problem anymore.=)
I don't think getting rid of gaming would get rid of the stereotyping, it would still be there you might not see it yourself but it'll go on even with or without games.
Wow, someone thumbed me down for that? Stereotyping is everywhere what makes getting rid of games would get rid of it? It happens in the job industry, music etc. People are to immature and not very educated and lash out at people because they don't understand someone. That's what i'm getting at. It's still going to exist not in the gaming topic but else where if gaming goes.
And i mean stereotyping in general not just gaming.
Last edited by Clamedeus on 1/29/2011 1:36:23 PM
it was a joke. lol
I know you were joking but i was refering to the person who thumbed me down for some reason. But it would be good if stereotyping didn't happen at all with many other things in the world.
I always find these kinds of articles interesting, because my experience has been exactly the opposite. First, I was introduced to gaming by my mother back in the days of Microzine and the Apple II-C, and by my three aunts with the Atari 2600. Four of the most normal women you could ever meet, and they have always loved video games. Today, three of the four have iPads, and play Scrabble and Pocket Frogs together over wifi.
Second, my wife is a gamer with an affinity for platformers with shooter elements (e.g., Ratchet & Clank). But she is also the very definition of a girlie girl, sort of like Katherine Heigl's characters in all her movies but more athletic. She never catches any flack for being a gamer and regularly whips up on her brother and cousin at numerous games.
Now, I'm not intending to brag, but my point is that I don't see the gender pigeonholing that so many articles claim occurs. I can see how it COULD happen, but I haven't experienced it. It makes me wonder just how big a problem this really is, and how many girls actually deal with it.
Last edited by TheAgingHipster on 1/29/2011 9:15:01 AM
Once again, I'm referring to people other than gamers. Of course, gamers don't stereotype other gamers.
You've been around video games all your life, and you've been around people with similar experiences. None of them are going to look at a girl as more of a boy because she plays. The mainstream populace who knows nothing about games, on the other hand…
For instance, take those mothers you see in the Dead Space 2 ad. Ask THEM. Know what I mean? We often forget about that other naysaying group…primarily because we don't WANT to remember them. 😉
Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 1/29/2011 9:51:07 AM
Good point Ben. I've certainly been fortunate in that my friends and family have always been open about gaming. However, I would argue that DS2 is a bad example, given its decidedly gory and gruesome content. I know true gamers that refuse to play those games specifically because of that.
The flip side, then, is that perhaps gaming in general is becoming more acceptable. Using my aunts as the example again, they are leaders in their communities and churches, and when people hear they are playing games like Ratchet and Clank, or any of the plethora of AppStore games, they are not shunned or judged, but rather their associates begin to play those games too. They view it as a social activity rather than as a stigma, and they've brought new gamers into the fold by being open about their hobby.
I don't know if this is the exception rather than the rule, but I do think it says something about circumstances surrounding gamers. Perhaps public view of certain gamers is a product of other behaviors unassociated with gaming, e.g., asociality or awkwardness?
I gotta say the male gamers themselves love them some girl gamers in their lobby. I've played against many clans with girls in them on more than one FPS. I also have a few "girl gamer" friends. They are as normal as I. Just like me they put work, school and life among other things first and play later.
So why should anyone outaide the industry be stereotyping? We know gamers are not really criticizing in this case. So if a girl leads a normal life abd plays games on the side, I don't know what the issue would be for anybody.
As a female gamer I would have to agree with this article. It's sad but true.
It's a label that seems to get placed on any girl who games. You're a girl? You play games? Well, you're either fat and ugly or a tomboy. Those are your options.
I have a lot of female gaming friends. Almost all of them are fairly attractive, and almost all of them enjoy the kind of things that other, non-gaming girls enjoy, too. We aren't just male gamers with boobs.
There is still so much disrespect for girls who play video games. It's sad. There has hardly been a single time where I haven't been called something sexist or disgusting while I've been on my headset. That hasn't stopped me, though.
I'm more of the Jane Austen novel in one hand and DS3 in the other kind of girl gamer, though. (:
I happen to enjoy nice clothes and makeup just as much as I enjoy a good round of COD or zombie slaying. Take that, stereotypes!