Home Gaming You’re thinking about women in gaming wrong

You’re thinking about women in gaming wrong

3 min read
137

Child playing video games

I have been avoiding the whole GamerGate, invisible privilege, feminism and sexism debate. In fact, I’m continuing to do so now… sort of. I don’t want to rehash the same topics that we’ve already discussed. Suffice it to say that Gavin and Alessandro have their own opinions, and I don’t really agree with either of them. However, this might shift some of your thinking.

This is an opinion piece by the author indicated and does not represent the views of the publication or its staff.

As most of you know, I have always been a gamer. From before I was allowed to hold the controller, I would guide my brother through games, playing as the brain before I was the “brawn”. Overtime, my brother lost interest in video games, but I never did. Continuing to play throughout my childhood, adolescence and into adulthood.

Recently, I commented to my mom about how grateful I was that she continued buying me games even after my brother stopped playing. That it’s so often that games are seen as a boy hobby and so it was a sign of her strong feminist outlook that she continued to buy me “boy” toys. She laughed, but not for the reason you think. Unlike the toy dump truck or Legos she bought me, she didn’t believe video games were classic presents for a boy.

For all these years, my mom has been convinced that gaming is a girly hobby. And when she explained to me why, it made sense. Compared to traditionally masculine pastimes, gaming is really rather feminine. Why?

  • You sit still
  • It’s mostly cerebral rather than active, and can be done quietly
  • You don’t get dirty (although hygiene is debatable among some gamers)

I had never viewed it this way, but I suppose it fit in nicely with my other indoor hobbies such as playing piano or reading. All activities included sitting mostly still, focused on fine motor skills rather than general strength or fitness. Beyond that, it wasn’t an aggressive hobby like when I’d play basketball or all the kids would play dodgeball.

Dodgeball

As I grew into an adult, I’d often talk about gaming with friends. It was never seen as strange that I was playing because of my gender. They all just accepted it in the same breath as accepting my other pastimes or interests.

This leads me to believe that the people who rant about women in gaming (positive or negative) are a small, but extremely vocal, minority. Most men and women who play or make games are happy to just enjoy their activity of choice. It is only when the normalcy of it is questioned, or issues surrounding representation, that we get a storm in a teacup. This isn’t to say that there aren’t issues, but the amount of time that we’ve spent debating the topic of women in gaming doesn’t feel proportionate to the size of the problem in my opinion and experience.

I like playing games, and I like playing wonderful games the most. What makes a great game is hard to really quantify, but one thing that certainly helps are believable characters and environment. Whether male, female, or somewhere in between, it’s nice to see characters interact with each other in realistic ways, based on well rounded personalities. Too often, female characters are boring and flat, just as too often male characters resemble wet dish towels. The gaming industry tends to get it better with their depictions of male characters vs female characters, but in the end, if all this talk about women in gaming just means that we get better characters in general from studios, I will be happy. And I will continue to sit still and stay clean while I quietly play my game and enjoy the same hobby I’ve had for my whole life.

Last Updated: December 11, 2014

137 Comments

  1. ToshZA

    December 11, 2014 at 14:35

    Well now we know why JJ is a gamer. But what about the rest of us?

    Reply

    • Captain JJ glitterati fantasti

      December 11, 2014 at 14:39

      LOL

      It’s true. :/

      Reply

      • Brady miaau

        December 11, 2014 at 18:17

        Well, you are not alone there good buddy.

        Reply

    • Kensei Seraph

      December 11, 2014 at 14:45

      Well I progressed from reading to gaming when I was young so I suppose I became more active (and by Zoe’s mother’s argument more masculine).

      Reply

    • Admiral Chief BellatorMachina

      December 11, 2014 at 14:47

      Oh snap

      Reply

  2. CAE9872

    December 11, 2014 at 14:39

    A nice succinct piece.

    Reply

  3. CAE9872

    December 11, 2014 at 14:43

    “This isn’t to say that there aren’t issues, but the amount of time that we’ve spent debating the topic of women in gaming doesn’t feel proportionate to the size of the problem in my opinion and experience.”

    THIS^

    Reply

  4. Kensei Seraph

    December 11, 2014 at 14:44

    This, exactly this:
    “What makes a great game is hard to really quantify, but one thing that
    certainly helps are believable characters and environment. Whether male,
    female, or somewhere in between, it’s nice to see characters interact
    with each other in realistic ways, based on well rounded personalities”

    Reply

    • Captain JJ glitterati fantasti

      December 11, 2014 at 14:47

      It’s all fiction and with fiction anything goes, so I suppose people can argue that. But I kind of like when I can put myself in the moment and it feels realistic (aside from the magic and big guns and flying squirrels)

      Reply

  5. Captain JJ glitterati fantasti

    December 11, 2014 at 14:44

    I think a difference regarding characters is that guys would often not mind being a muscular dude with a six pack and an awesome raspy voice. But women don’t always want to be the kind of character who only wears armour in strategic places.
    I liked that about Skyrim and Kingdoms of Amalur. The armours and stuff wasn’t super sexualised for women. Then again, I’m sure Skyrim has some crazy mods to push the limits by now with boob hammers and crap like that.

    Reply

    • Kensei Seraph

      December 11, 2014 at 14:47

      I think the first of those mods were made within a day of Skyrim’s release.

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief BellatorMachina

        December 11, 2014 at 14:48

        *hours

        Reply

    • Her Highness the Hipster

      December 11, 2014 at 14:49

      there were also those crazy penis mods. so i suppose it balances out in the end?

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief BellatorMachina

        December 11, 2014 at 14:50

        LOL compensating for something?

        Reply

      • Captain JJ glitterati fantasti

        December 11, 2014 at 14:51

        Probably takes dual wielding to a whole new level.

        Reply

        • Rock789

          December 11, 2014 at 14:52

          o_O

          Reply

        • Kensei Seraph

          December 11, 2014 at 14:53

          Wouldn’t it be tri-wielding?
          Pass the brain bleach please.

          Reply

          • Captain JJ glitterati fantasti

            December 11, 2014 at 14:54

            Well, I like to carry a shield. ;P

          • Rock789

            December 11, 2014 at 14:55

            Pass it this way when you’re done, please… o_O

            **rocks himself back and forth in the corner for comfort**

    • Deceased

      December 12, 2014 at 14:16

      … “with boob hammers and”…

      I’m not even going to ask what dark corners of skyrim nexus you’ve been to O.O

      Reply

      • Captain JJ glitterati fantasti

        December 15, 2014 at 08:40

        I actually just made that one up, though I would not be surprised to see it. ;P

        Reply

  6. Quo Vadis?

    December 11, 2014 at 14:44

    A well balanced written piece. It is written by someone that makes a succinct point without blaming either gender, but brings a point across. Respect for that, Zoe 🙂

    Reply

  7. Admiral Chief BellatorMachina

    December 11, 2014 at 14:46

    Dat disclaimer!

    Reply

    • Captain JJ glitterati fantasti

      December 11, 2014 at 14:48

      Where? What disclaimer?

      Reply

    • Gavin Mannion

      December 11, 2014 at 14:48

      They made it for my articles but now are too scared to not use it on theirs in case I fire them 🙂

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief BellatorMachina

        December 11, 2014 at 14:48

        BANHAMMER!

        Reply

      • Captain JJ glitterati fantasti

        December 11, 2014 at 14:48

        Wise

        Reply

  8. Admiral Chief BellatorMachina

    December 11, 2014 at 14:49

    All good and well, but I’m still waiting for that damn sammich JJ is supposed to make!

    Reply

    • Kensei Seraph

      December 11, 2014 at 14:51

      That’s sexist.

      Reply

      • Captain JJ glitterati fantasti

        December 11, 2014 at 14:52

        Well, technically they don’t really know what I am.

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief BellatorMachina

          December 11, 2014 at 15:20

          YOU ARE FANTASTIC

          Reply

          • Captain JJ glitterati fantasti

            December 11, 2014 at 15:23

            *fantasti !
            Sounds more foreign. You know mos mos.

          • Admiral Chief BellatorMachina

            December 11, 2014 at 15:24

            Muy bueno muchos fantasticos

          • Captain JJ glitterati fantasti

            December 11, 2014 at 15:30

            si si!

    • Captain JJ glitterati fantasti

      December 11, 2014 at 14:52

      • Kensei Seraph

        December 11, 2014 at 14:53

        Instant cholesterol?

        Reply

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          December 11, 2014 at 14:53

          No, there’s some green. leafy stuff on top – so it’s a healthy sandwich.

          Reply

          • Captain JJ glitterati fantasti

            December 11, 2014 at 14:56

            You see that little sandwich on the side? That’s for you. You’re welcome.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            December 11, 2014 at 14:58

            Thank you, I appreciate that you’re helping me look after my delicate figure.

          • Quo Vadis?

            December 11, 2014 at 15:05

            Green leafy stuff? You mean, goat’s food?

          • Captain JJ glitterati fantasti

            December 11, 2014 at 15:09

            I think you mean to say “goat is food”

          • Quo Vadis?

            December 11, 2014 at 15:12

            That as well. But green leafy stuff is eaten by my food, does that make me a closet vegetarian?

        • Rock789

          December 11, 2014 at 14:56

          Actually, according to Banting, if you remove the roll on top and bottom, that’s a perfectly balanced meal! 😉

          Reply

          • Captain JJ glitterati fantasti

            December 11, 2014 at 14:57

            LOL

          • Quo Vadis?

            December 11, 2014 at 15:04

            I only eat vegetables twice a year. That’s over Christmas and New Years when we have pork and chicken. That sammich, I would like to order one for my birthday next year. just no mayo please 🙂

      • Sageville

        December 11, 2014 at 14:56

        I may have peed a little….

        Reply

      • Admiral Chief BellatorMachina

        December 11, 2014 at 15:20

        I stand corrected. That’ll do JJ, that’ll do

        Reply

  9. Rock789

    December 11, 2014 at 14:51

    Great piece Zoe – very well put! Totally agree. 🙂

    Reply

  10. Kensei Seraph

    December 11, 2014 at 14:54

    Home and DA:I time. 😀

    Reply

    • Captain JJ glitterati fantasti

      December 11, 2014 at 14:54

      Lucky moer.

      Reply

    • Rags

      December 11, 2014 at 14:57

      ass

      Reply

      • Kensei Seraph

        December 12, 2014 at 07:47

        Well I suppose you could also get into work at 7:30 AM and cut your lunch break in half if you really wanted to.

        Reply

    • Rock789

      December 11, 2014 at 14:58

      Did we mention you suck! 😉 😛

      No gaming for me tonight… **sigh** Year-end function… But, on the plus side, free booze!!! 😀

      Reply

      • Captain JJ glitterati fantasti

        December 11, 2014 at 14:59

        Mine was last night. Still missed my gaming though. :/

        Reply

        • Rock789

          December 11, 2014 at 15:01

          I know… I’m SO lus to play some DA:I… Or Far Cry 4 (so I can finish the story… And then focus on DA:I). So a rather large part of me wants to stay home… But I get to dress up, we’ve booked out an entire restaurant to ourselves till 2am, everything is free, and I have a lift (so no worry about over indulging). So, me thinks, it’ll be a nice enough night. 🙂

          Reply

          • Captain JJ glitterati fantasti

            December 11, 2014 at 15:09

            I don’t have any NEW game to play, but my backlog has some great games just waiting to be picked up and started. Maybe I’ll start a new one tonight actually…
            DA:I does seriously call out to me though.
            Oh, I was the lift last night. So couldn’t drink much. Seeing as I’m the only guy in our office (yes I am a guy in fact) I offered to drive. Being courteous and all. 😉

          • Rock789

            December 11, 2014 at 15:11

            You are courteous and don’t let anyone ever say different! **hands JJ the Noddy badge** 😉 🙂

            In all seriousness – get DA:I when you can… Honestly, you won’t be disappointed. I mean, it’s OvG endorsed – how much more awesome can it get!!! 🙂

          • Captain JJ glitterati fantasti

            December 11, 2014 at 15:14

            True. And he’s the only other person I know besides myself who commits to walking across Skyrim instead of fast traveling.

          • Rock789

            December 11, 2014 at 15:17

            Hey, me too!!! Never fast traveled – not once!! Hence what I came to label as “Hey look – a cave” syndrome… 🙂

          • Captain JJ glitterati fantasti

            December 11, 2014 at 15:18

            Hehe. Excellent!
            Great way to gain experience too.

          • Admiral Chief BellatorMachina

            December 11, 2014 at 15:23

            TFU!!!!!

          • Captain JJ glitterati fantasti

            December 11, 2014 at 15:24

            The f*^* U on about?
            ;P

          • Admiral Chief BellatorMachina

            December 11, 2014 at 15:24

            Just finish it man!

          • Captain JJ glitterati fantasti

            December 11, 2014 at 15:30

            As much as I hate to admit it. You are right.

          • Admiral Chief BellatorMachina

            December 11, 2014 at 15:52

            Aren’t I always?

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            December 11, 2014 at 15:56

            Only when you agree with me.

      • Quo Vadis?

        December 11, 2014 at 15:05

        then why you complaining? LOL

        Reply

        • Rock789

          December 11, 2014 at 15:08

          The gaming part is complaining… 😉 The other part is going “Show me to the bar!!”

          Reply

          • Quo Vadis?

            December 11, 2014 at 15:12

            when you wake up tomorrow, your liver will be sitting next to you drinking a cup of coffee saying “way to go, @sshole” 😀

          • Captain JJ glitterati fantasti

            December 11, 2014 at 15:13

            Mine usually just sits in the corner singing: “dink jy darem nog aan my”

          • Quo Vadis?

            December 11, 2014 at 15:14

            liefling, kan ons nie maar vergeet en vergewe? NEE! hahahahahahaha

          • Captain JJ glitterati fantasti

            December 11, 2014 at 15:14

            LOL

          • Admiral Chief BellatorMachina

            December 11, 2014 at 15:23

            LOOOL

          • Admiral Chief BellatorMachina

            December 11, 2014 at 15:23

            XD

          • Rock789

            December 11, 2014 at 15:17

            Lol! 🙂 True dat!

      • Kensei Seraph

        December 12, 2014 at 07:41

        Work time. :'(

        Reply

  11. Gaz

    December 11, 2014 at 14:55

    Can I just say I enjoy these articles of yours. Another point id like to make is that Zoe is a great gamer and yet she can also bring the muscle to the gym, lifting more than most women and yes, more than some of the men and with impressive form too.

    Reply

  12. Sageville

    December 11, 2014 at 14:55

    My knee jerk reaction to people telling me my thinking is wrong is normally a very loud “MAYBE!”

    But I do agree with the piece, and everything in it.

    Personally, the previous 2 GG pieces felt like they were extracted from that very small vocal community discussed here and as such I could only agreed with some of each pieces points.

    Nice one Zoe.

    Reply

  13. Alien Emperor Trevor

    December 11, 2014 at 14:58

    The funny thing about the whole differentiation between the sexes, ie this is for boys & this is for girls, is how much of it is actually very recent; and not brought down from the mists of time by our glorious ancestors.

    Reply

    • Her Highness the Hipster

      December 11, 2014 at 15:00

      Agree! although try to debate the subject with @Gavin Mannion:disqus and you may feel like you’re banging your head against a brick wall. 😛

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        December 11, 2014 at 15:05

        I’ve never understood why some people insist on being wrong. 😀

        Reply

      • Gavin Mannion

        December 11, 2014 at 15:12

        Because you got the wrong idea from our conversation…

        Reply

        • Rags

          December 11, 2014 at 15:13

          /w women
          😛

          Reply

    • Captain JJ glitterati fantasti

      December 11, 2014 at 15:04

      I think although it has only come on recently, and although some things have changed things around very quickly, some take longer than others and it gets frustrating.
      Unfortunately it won’t change overnight.

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        December 11, 2014 at 15:10

        I see it with my own family. My little niece gets so excited when she gets something that isn’t pink, a doll or “girly”. Not that she doesn’t like that stuff, but it’s clearly not ALL she likes.

        Reply

  14. Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

    December 11, 2014 at 15:02

    Truthfully, the gender wars are just going to get worse, until either third-wave feminism leaves emotive postmodernist yarn AND return to facts-over-assumptions…. or gaming find itself transformed into something completely unrecognisable because of draconian policies forced upon it (be it beneficial or otherwise).

    The problem isn’t that men do not want women to game/play, on the contrary for as long as I can remember I have always wanted my female cousins, female friends, family and girlfriends to join me on my gaming adventures. Granted, this is anecdotal (but I’m sure many other male gamers have similar experiences). The problem lies with the almost autocratic and artificial way that third-wavers have tried to push a round wooden toy into a triangular hole. Attacking gaming as an example of the evils of patriarchy or misrepresenting gaming as a form of toxic masculinity, is exactly why there’s been so much animosity. It’s also why gamergate (whether you agree or disagree with the movement) will continue to exist or even mutate into something else (for better or worse).

    I just can’t get behind the SJWs in their fight for ‘equality’, because the very foundation is based on a shaky assumptions about gaming, gamers and the very subculture we find ourselves in (and I remember what happened during atheism + and what a mess third-wavers made with their cultish nonsense). The irony however is, that I believe strongly in the equality of women in gaming. In fact, I absolutely detest the term “girl gamers”, because I always maintain that if you’re female and a gamer, you are a gamer….

    Reply

    • Rags

      December 11, 2014 at 15:04

      Bravo!

      Reply

    • Quo Vadis?

      December 11, 2014 at 15:10

      The gaming industry is headed for very troubled waters. Soon, you will be too scared to offend someone, as you have no idea what backlash is coming your way. But, lets look at something else on the other hand, the game “Hatred”. Even though I find the game morally and ethically apprehensible, and for that matter will not buy or play it, it must be given a thumbs up for simply not giving a toss and pushing freedom of speech and expression to the very limit to where it can go.

      Reply

    • Admiral Chief BellatorMachina

      December 11, 2014 at 15:22

      The nana has spoken!

      Reply

  15. Norman Pleasant

    December 11, 2014 at 15:03

    Speaking as a hardcore gamer for 25+ years, I’m of the opinion that people take games way too seriously these days.

    Reply

    • Anon A Mouse

      December 11, 2014 at 15:08

      But you’re a man, you don’t know how it is.

      Reply

      • Norman Pleasant

        December 11, 2014 at 15:09

        That’s awfully presumptuous of you, on both counts.

        Reply

        • Anon A Mouse

          December 11, 2014 at 15:13

          Went with the avatar, and that’s the standard answer to any male on the subject.

          Reply

          • Norman Pleasant

            December 11, 2014 at 15:17

            Well, to profile someone’s opinion simply by their gender is sort of the point of all this, isn’t it?

            As it happens, I’m married to a lovely lady who’s been a gamer nearly as long as I have, so I consider myself pretty well-versed on the subject.

            And with my well-versed and informed perspective I can safely say there are far more vital areas of human existence for feminism to concentrate on, like representation in politics, business and sports to name but a few.

            Games are for fun. Take them too seriously and you trivialise the really important stuff.

          • Norman Pleasant

            December 11, 2014 at 15:21

            And looking back, if your initial answer was ironic then ignore my response, the joke was a good one, bravo.

          • Anon A Mouse

            December 11, 2014 at 15:23

            It was, still value the response since there is truth in it.

  16. Rags

    December 11, 2014 at 15:10

    Nice article Zoe.
    I grew up with Doom and Quake dude. So I don’t often care about how fleshed out the protagonists are. Good characters are a luxury. When games do flesh characters out, it becomes budget intensive and hard to get right. And when they do get it right, its glorious like Mass Effect.
    But I would give my left nut for a Quake 1 remake with not a single line of dialog. Let the shotguns and rocket jumps do the talking.

    Reply

    • Captain JJ glitterati fantasti

      December 11, 2014 at 15:12

      When games are story rich and revolve around a certain person I don’t really care what race or gender they are. But I sure do like games where I can create my own character. 🙂

      Reply

    • Gavin Mannion

      December 11, 2014 at 15:21

      Advanced Warfare is reminding me a lot of the original Quake 1… without the rocket jump

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief BellatorMachina

        December 11, 2014 at 15:22

        Ahhh, good times

        Reply

      • Norman Pleasant

        December 11, 2014 at 15:22

        When oh when will we have jumping rockets for a change?

        Reply

  17. Kikmi

    December 11, 2014 at 15:13

    This is an awesome piece.

    Reply

    • Sam Wright

      December 11, 2014 at 15:17

      Agreed! Nicely done Zoe. If I wasn’t promised to Darryn I’d wife you.

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        December 11, 2014 at 15:19

        A FATE WORSE THAN DEATH! (and I’m leaving that ambiguous on purpose)

        Reply

        • Quo Vadis?

          December 11, 2014 at 15:39

          Well played, sir.

          Reply

      • The D

        December 11, 2014 at 15:19

        Ha! Iron-Clad paper contracts rule!

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief BellatorMachina

          December 11, 2014 at 15:21

          O_O

          Did I miss a memo?

          Reply

          • Captain JJ glitterati fantasti

            December 11, 2014 at 15:38

            The invitations are yet to come. ;P

          • Sageville

            December 11, 2014 at 15:53

            The rehearsal was too much….

  18. Anon A Mouse

    December 11, 2014 at 15:27

    It seems not that long ago when boys all played with GI Joe figurines and girls liked running around playing cowboys and crooks with all the other kids in the neighborhood. What happened to that?

    Reply

    • Captain JJ glitterati fantasti

      December 11, 2014 at 15:33

      People blame social media and technology and all kinds of things.
      Sure they play a role. Of course they do.
      But things change. As much as we loved out childhood, our kids will have different childhoods and so will their children.
      Honestly, I don’t know if it’s a good or a bad thing.

      Reply

      • Anon A Mouse

        December 11, 2014 at 15:38

        But the problem these days are at everything has to be placed nicely into boxes or there will be a rant about it somewhere. Heck even the box to place it in is a rant on its own. People should rather go on living in stead of constantly judging.

        Reply

        • Captain JJ glitterati fantasti

          December 11, 2014 at 15:41

          As much as I agree with you. Sadly there are still a lot of things that NEED to change for the better. I live in an estate because it’s the only way it feels like living in the old days where kids could play in the street and leave their bicycles on the front yard.
          The sad part in it is that we have to close ourselves off from the real world in gated villages to experience what it used to be like.

          Reply

    • Quo Vadis?

      December 11, 2014 at 15:38

      it got dangerous, that’s what happened. It got unsafe to walk to school. It became dangerous to go to a sleepover. Going to youth events became like playing Russian roulette. Parents thought they were doing their kids a favour by giving them cellphones and games. Instead, kids became asocial and cant communicate outside in a real environment. I grew up with scramblers, outdoors, nature, hunting, rifles etc. And I hope I will be able to give my kids the same one day.

      Reply

    • J_Joestar

      December 11, 2014 at 20:48

      I remember playing “Power Rangers” back in grade school and the girl in our group always took charge as Red rather than just being relegated to Pink or Yellow.

      (of course i was always Blue cuz Triceratops are awesome.)

      Reply

  19. Raptor Rants A Lot

    December 11, 2014 at 15:59

    woah.. You actually have me stunned. I have nothing of relevance to add because I actually need to sit and think about what you’ve said here. Perhaps all this woman vs men thing is really just all being blown out of proportion.

    Well written article. Thanks for the thought food

    Reply

    • Quo Vadis?

      December 11, 2014 at 16:01

      Hush, little one. The pokefreak conference is next door ;P

      Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      December 11, 2014 at 16:02

      So you’re saying Zoe gave you a brain sammich? That’s sexist! 😀

      Reply

      • Quo Vadis?

        December 11, 2014 at 16:03

        There is literally “no winning” for this poor guy whahahahahahaha

        Reply

        • Raptor Rants A Lot

          December 11, 2014 at 16:03

          You had to go there lol

          Reply

          • Quo Vadis?

            December 11, 2014 at 16:05

            If you didn’t capitalize on it, your loss boet ;P

          • Raptor Rants A Lot

            December 12, 2014 at 06:06

            When are you getting an actual avatar pic?

          • Quo Vadis?

            December 12, 2014 at 09:27

            When my mom says I can!

      • Raptor Rants A Lot

        December 11, 2014 at 16:04

        Sheesh dude. That’s not what I meant at all but… BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

        It was a little funny 🙂

        Reply

    • Norman Pleasant

      December 11, 2014 at 16:16

      Well, as the arena of politics remains the domain of but a few, does it not behove the masses to invent their own? Let not logic interfere with the imaginary issues – fevered and urgent though they may be – of the gaming proletariat!

      Reply

  20. Chris

    December 11, 2014 at 16:34

    People are still missing the point about GamerGate

    That aside; good article and gaming itself has nothing to do with gender. Everyone enjoys it, and just as well. But at the same time; no one should be expecting special treatment – it’s neutral.

    Regarding the GamerGate stuff – all of it has to do with that woman who cheated on her boyfriend, slept with 5 game review journalists, in order to bolster her reviews – the fallout from that exposed a whole corrupt network of devs and journalists who were buddy-buddy and that entire industry was a sham. Following from this, they tried to sink gamers, saying gaming was dead, etc etc.
    It turns out, all the bad disgusting gender fighting that had been happening was driven by these very same people anyways. The response made everything worse.

    Anyway, feel free to read on the internet further about it.

    Reply

  21. RustedFaith

    December 11, 2014 at 17:42

    Its nice to have sober article about woman in gaming. I agree that there are allot of sexism in the industry as well but its been overblown just like GTA V is on mainstream media etc …

    BTW Zoe you are not a female you are a gamer 😛

    Reply

    • J_Joestar

      December 11, 2014 at 20:41

      can’t she be both? the two are not mutually exclusive.

      Reply

      • RustedFaith

        December 12, 2014 at 12:08

        The way I see it is there are no genders or race in gaming. Its as simple as that if you enjoy playing games then you are a gamer regardless of race, gender or culture.

        Like Zoe she is a true gamer and thats the way I will always see it. I cant care if she is a midget that shoots dragon fire out of her ass she is still just a gamer just like all of us.

        Reply

        • J_Joestar

          December 12, 2014 at 21:12

          I get what you mean, but i don’t think it should be necessary for someone to abandon parts of themselves so easily, as long as they don’t force their views/lifestyles on other.

          Reply

          • RustedFaith

            December 12, 2014 at 21:35

            I fully agree with you, also consider this you lose part of yourself when you play games anyway because you will take on the role of a character even more so in rpg games.

            At the end of the day we just want to play games and have fun regardless of gender.

            The same ass hole that will be sexist to a lady will most probably be a dick towards others as well. But at the end of the day you cant walk up to him and teach him manners the good old fashion way so sometimes you just need to let go.

            I always believed having a argument on the internet is like running the special Olympics, someone might win the race but at the end of the day you are both still losers.

            I’m guilty of having a few intwerwebs arguments as well but it happens.

  22. Tom Krager

    December 11, 2014 at 17:52

    Seems like a perfectly reasonable and thought out article. . . I’m sure feminists will flip their lid over it.

    I have ZERO issue with women like this in gaming. In fact, I think if we had more ppl like the author in the gaming community, men and women, we would be better off because of it.

    The ppl that I have an issue with are the ones who, 15 years ago, were calling men and boys who played video games “virgins” or “nerdy losers” .. . Now they call us, misogynists and neckbeards . . .For the 30-40 years of gaming evolution, the community has been survived by a majority male community. And historically speaking these ppl have been shunned from the popular crowd. In fact, I think gaming is really only becoming an acceptable, “cool” hobby recently. There was a good amount of time there that if you played video games, you were a nerd .. . and there was no nerd pride back then. You were just looked at like a loser.

    Now that gaming is mainstream and popular, a lot of ppl feel that they want a piece of the pie. Which is fine . .. but don’t act like it was majority male hobby because of sexism . . it was because girls were too busy doing their thing and couldn’t be bothered with video games. BTW, I’m glad that mentality is changing. I enjoy being able to play video games with the women in my life.

    Reply

  23. Brady miaau

    December 11, 2014 at 18:17

    In a lot of ways I played games as a child for the same reason. Was quiet, did not like noise, read a crap load of books, like the peace and quiet of a good game, like ALL (except Kings Quest) of Sierra’s games or Civ 1 and the like. Eye of the Beholder.

    But I also played sports, a lot. Best of both, I suppose. But I can certainly identify with what was written here and it does make sense.

    Wonder if my little girl will agree as she gets older?

    Edit* and great article, thanks for the read

    Reply

  24. Joe Black

    December 11, 2014 at 22:12

    Hmm well. I don’t know if it my upbringing or my own mental development, but I sometimes actually get shocked that there are still issues about male and female roles (other than the obvious sexual of course).

    I just don’t get why there are still issues. Let people spend >theirthey< want to.

    Reply

  25. B4d R0b0t

    December 12, 2014 at 10:23

    Good read Zoe, thanks for a refreshing & different perspective.

    Reply

  26. Darren Peach

    December 12, 2014 at 17:10

    I don’t like this topic. But, If you consider that a lady helmed the epic “Last of Us”. Not sure of her exact role, But it is a narrative masterpiece. I think that settles any concern some might have.

    Reply

  27. naxie

    December 12, 2014 at 23:52

    in the spirit of (mostly) full disclosure, i am Zoe’s mom. i loved what Zoe wrote about her childhood with regard to video games. There is more to the story, however. I would watch Zoe play those games – when she was the navigator and her older brother held the controller, she would draw detailed maps so they could get back to any particular level to get the key or whatever it was that they were in search of. i viewed this to be a skill to be encouraged and reinforced. back then, and i have no idea how parents look at video games and their kids at this moment in time, but back then i was mostly alone in my belief that video games were good for kids and shouldn’t be lumped into the category of sitting in front of a screen a merely watching tv for hours. i put no limits on how much times my kids played video games – hand/eye coordination, mapping, memory, dealing with frustration, finding solutions – i saw nothing negative about video games. so when zoe’s older brother handed the controller to her, i had no reason to do anything except support her love of those games. just my two cents about girls who turn into women with a life-long love of video games.

    Reply

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