Posted September 28, 2014
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I actually agree that forcing companies to hire or interview based on sex or ethnicity or whatever else is wrong. Positive discrimination is still discrimination. But then when you look at the jobs where these things apply, they are often dominated by very similar people. People tend to hire others who are similar to themselves, even if they don't know it, so how else can a woman break through into that world?
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Just as we seem to be on the issue of sexism, I wanted to quote Piranjade's post in full. I'm assuming many of us arguing here are male, as such I do think its worth a read. Its post 944.
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What comes to the gaming community as a whole: I've been a female gamer in the gaming community for almost two decades and yes, there is a problem. There is misogyny, and it's been getting worse in recent years. No, it's not just a tiny minority, it's a real problem. I know it personally. I've had to deal with it. You haven't. There is also a problem with game journalism and corruption, has been for a long time. This is not a case of Evil Feminist Journalists versus Innocent Downtrodden Gamers and it's not constructive at all to simplify the whole issue.
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But it is also true that there are still many gamers who aren't like that, who would never say anything like that, who don't act like assholes, who see these people as trolls and ignore them.
I'm at a point where ignoring the trolls (and I don't believe all of them are male) is not enough for me anymore.
All of us, male and female gamers, need to make a change and try to get along better. We need to be what is heard and not the assholes.
And that won't happen if we just dismiss them as trolls and let them carry on, it won't happen if we dismiss what they do as normal because there are assholes everywhere in life, it won't happen if we claim that those people aren't causing a problem.
They are causing a problem by slightly distorting the how gamers are seen (I say slightly because they are many and many more side with them) and they are causing a problem because they are harassing female gamers.
I have experienced it from Half-Life over Diablo 2 into gaming nowadays.
I've seen it in posts on forums including this one.
I even had one user here messaging me "You're the cutest thing I've seen on this site! :D" when engaging in a discussion, which, while it wasn't harassment, I found at least a bit disparaging.
We can all run around and say that there are bigger problems in life ("Corruption in gaming journalism!") but still I'd like to play online without hiding my gender, I'd like to play online without fearing that I'll be harassed. And I think we can do that. I do believe that we can make gaming a "better place" for women (and girls) and for everybody in general.
If we do dare to admit that there is a problem.
Because then we can tackle it.
(A bit old, but remember Milktea? http://milktea-ssbm.tumblr.com/post/76970566292/why-awareness-in-the-super-smash-bros-melee-community )
Post edited September 28, 2014 by chincilla