Women and gaming
And now for the entry I’m sure most people had wanted me to write from the start: Women and gaming. More specifically, why aren’t there more women in the field?
Maybe it’s just because I’m a girl, but I really don’t see how it’s much of a mystery. Honestly? It’s because most guys alienate themselves. Although part of he problem is a of lack of interest in games on a woman’s part, it’s mostly because of the gamer’s “stigma” that seems to have developed. I know it’s a stereotype, but in my experience it’s mostly been proven true. I’m not saying that all men in the industry are like this, but a good portion of them are.
Allow me to clarify.
A lot of boys grow up playing video games. They sit themselves down in front of their PCs or TVs and stay there for hours, hardly ever leaving the comfort of their digital glows. Years go by and pretty soon they’ve developed into men who lack the social skills that they should have, but don’t because the only other people they’ve encountered have been NPCs, the digital aliases of other gamers just like themselves, and the guy at the counter of Best Buy who knows them by name and rings up the games that they buy. They invest so much into the false worlds that they inhabit that when they have to step outside of them they’re at a bit of a loss for what’s going on. They lose touch with reality and things that should be easy, like holding a conversation with females, seems more impossible than downing the final boss of the latest game that they bought.
It’s sad, but true. I’ve seen it happen to so many of my friends and family members. Unfortunately, this is the rep that has been branded on gamers. And even more unfortunately, a lot of boys forgo everything, including hygiene, for their digital conquests. Thus, these few bad apples further ruin the already rotting bushel. I feel bad because I know that there are a lot of good guys hiding amidst the trash, but like I said before, in society this has become the stigma for gamers.
Because of how we (women) are raised to think (damn you, Barbie) we hold appearance to unhealthy standards. Not just our own, but other people’s too. A lot of us spend hours in the morning primping and preening to look just right, and anyone who doesn’t take the same care is thought to be repulsive/unworthy/undesirable/etc. We’re raised believing that our Prince Charmings will be exactly that—charming. No matter how sweet or humble any girl is, it’s in our natures to be a little bit vain and fickle. On a psychological level, women are more inclined to be moved by aesthetics. We like things that look pretty. And unfortunately, with the reputation of being dominated by smelly, greasy and unkempt men, you can’t blame us for straying away from the gaming industry. I’m sorry, but those words do not fit in our vocabulary.
And as I mentioned before, this isn’t the only reason for a lack of estrogen in the digital gaming field. A lack of interest in games on women’s parts is also to blame. Ask mostly any girl what her hobbies are and you’re guaranteed to get either “shopping” or “hanging out with my friends” or both. Women are social creatures (haven’t you ever noticed how we travel in packs?) so games that limit our ability to interact with other human beings tend to not catch our attention.
And also, it’s just how we’re raised. Boys are raised to be strong, aggressive, and active. Girls, on the other hand, are taught to be more passive and gentle. And it’s not like we can be mad at society for that. It’s been like this since the dawn of time. Historically, men have always been the hunters and protectors of the home, and women have been the gatherers and caretakers. These traits are inherent and inborn in every one of us. So men are more inclined to want to participate in violent video games.
It’s a bit of a vicious cycle, too, because the industry was founded by men. They made games that interested them, games that appealed to men. As it grew, they attracted more men who made more games for men. Sure, there are some women who joined in the fray, but for the most part games are still targeted toward the one group that the industry knows will be most willing to hand over the cash—boys. It’s a marketing scheme. You always aim for the group that will make the most profit. Sure, some companies, especially Nintendo, have been trying to reach out and bring in a wider demographic, but it will be a while before we ever see a surge of women in the gaming workforce.
So what I’m trying to say is don’t hold your breath. Maybe in a few years, but that all depends on how the industry continues to develop. And how the future employees develop.
In short, here’s the message: Break the cycle and get away from the computer or television set for a bit. It won’t kill you, your game won’t go anywhere, and it’ll help to improve your socialization skills. In doing so, you may be paving the road toward a better view on geeks and gamers.
And don’t gawk at girls when you see them. I know they look a lot better than they did in your brand new game, but staring is awkward and a gigantic turn-off.
Oh, and shower. You should shower. Showers are good.
PotM: This is me hiding under the covers while playing WoW. I guess you could say I’m a bit of a “closet geek.”
