• UK MP criticizes perceived lack of women in video game industry
    72 replies, posted
[QUOTE]Chi Onwurah, a U.K. member of parliament, decried what she perceives to be a lack of women in the country's video game industry recently, MCV reports. Based on undisclosed "figures" that she cited, Onwurah implied that the number of women working in the video game industry should increase. "The figures I have for females in the video games industry are even worse than the honorable gentleman's 17 percent," Onwurah said in response to an MP who claimed that women make up 17 percent of the workforce. [/QUOTE] [URL="http://www.polygon.com/2013/4/25/4266840/uk-mp-criticizes-perceived-lack-of-women-in-video-game-industry"]Source[/URL]
Is it because women aren't interested in the Video Game field? Or is there underlying sexism? Or both? I'm not educated on this topic.
[QUOTE=Zambies!;40454401]Is it because women aren't interested in the Video Game field? Or is there underlying sexism? Or both? I'm not educated on this topic.[/QUOTE] Take a gander at any comments section about women and video games and the answer will come to you.
[QUOTE=Zambies!;40454401]Is it because women aren't interested in the Video Game field? Or is there underlying sexism? Or both? I'm not educated on this topic.[/QUOTE] It's because boys and girls are brought up to adhere to their social norms which are expected in their culture. Sure you've always got people breaking this norm, but there's nothing you can do to change it without having a horde of reactionaries trying to defend their "heritage".
[QUOTE=Zambies!;40454401]Is it because women aren't interested in the Video Game field? Or is there underlying sexism? Or both? I'm not educated on this topic.[/QUOTE] The fact the figures are from a "Undisclosed Source" just screams bullshit to me. Anyway, if there is an issue, it would be because 10 years ago video games were a very male dominated hobby, not it's something like 45/55 female to male. Give it a few years for those gamers to go get degrees and join the gaming industry People just seem to assume it must be the companies not hiring enough women that causes this when more likely it's just not enough women applying for such jobs
If it's that bad do artificial hiring with preferring women over men, offer higher wages. That should balance it out fast enough.
[QUOTE=itisjuly;40454564]If it's that bad do artificial hiring with preferring women over men, offer higher wages. That should balance it out fast enough.[/QUOTE] Yea, lets offer higher wages to women, that's totally not sexist :downs:
Want a prime example on why there's few women in the video game industry? then take a gander at the first few Tomb Raider games.
"50% of women make up those who play video games" I don't know what this has to do with it, if we go by that logic we need more women in construction jobs because women use buildings.
[QUOTE=Van-man;40454589]Want a prime example on why there's few women in the video game industry? then take a gander at the first few Tomb Raider games.[/QUOTE] But back when those games were made they were praised by feminists everywhere for being one of the few video games with an actual female protagonist. Back then they were actually progressive, you can't really go back and judge them with modern standards like that.
[QUOTE=Van-man;40454589]Want a prime example on why there's few women in the video game industry? then take a gander at the first few Tomb Raider games.[/QUOTE] or just look at the usual reaction to a girl playing online games
Honestly I've noticed that female professionals just aren't as interested in game design. Met some girls in my modelling programs, but all of them were interested in the animation/advertisement/film industries, wheras far more of the men were interested in video games. Obviously that's not the case for [I]all[/I] women, but it may just be that video games tend to appeal to men more than women. Female artists and programmers have a tenancy to gravitate towards other industries. The game industry tends to be a bit too "horny sausage fest" for my tastes but I'd hardly call it exclusionary or misogynistic. [editline]28th April 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=Van-man;40454589]Want a prime example on why there's few women in the video game industry? then take a gander at the first few Tomb Raider games.[/QUOTE] Definitely aren't any sexualised male tropes in video games. Nosirey
[QUOTE=hypno-toad;40454660]Honestly I've noticed that female professionals just aren't as interested in game design. Met some girls in my modelling programs, but all of them were interested in the animation/advertisement/film industries, wheras fa rmore of them men were itnerested in video games. Obviously that's not the case for [I]all[/I] women, but it may just be that video games tend to appeal to men more than women. Female artists and programmers have a tenancy to gravitate towards other industries. The game industry tends to be a bit too "horny sausage fest" for my tastes but I'd hardly call it exclusionary or misogynistic.[/QUOTE] I think most of the issue comes down to how the industry is viewed by, for want of a better word, "outsiders." Even just working at a game store for a few years, the opinion by most non-gamers is that videogames are just toys for kids or for boys. This image is reinforced when male-targeted games are as popular and mainstream as they are. I hate to use Call of Duty as an example, but I there are SO many parents and girlfriends who roll their eyes and go "That's all he plays." Other than that, I've heard "Well, I'm a girl so I don't play games," or "You guys have probably grown out of games, right?" or whatever the case. Though the industry itself can apparently be exclusionary at times, I'd say it's more of a perception problem than anything else.
[QUOTE=hypno-toad;40454660]Honestly I've noticed that female professionals just aren't as interested in game design. Met some girls in my modelling programs, but all of them were interested in the animation/advertisement/film industries, wheras far more of the men were interested in video games. Obviously that's not the case for [I]all[/I] women, but it may just be that video games tend to appeal to men more than women. Female artists and programmers have a tenancy to gravitate towards other industries. The game industry tends to be a bit too "horny sausage fest" for my tastes but I'd hardly call it exclusionary or misogynistic.[/QUOTE] in the UK, only a few games really advertise themselves very much, and even then it's usually just CoD and similarly big-budget testosterone overdosed games that bother to do so. so i think games need to spread themselves out more through other media before the playerbase can expand and become more than just a bunch of nerds and dudebros, because at the moment it's kind of difficult to get into the whole culture unless you're the kind of guy who fits into those categories anyway. also as JeanLuc says video games aren't really perceived very well by anyone other than gamers, so even if games were more ingrained in the media a lot of people wouldn't really care to get into them as much as i'd like
"Perceived" is a great addition to the title for something completely empirical. And, although I agree with her, I'd like to see the "undisclosed figures" she mentions.
[QUOTE=ksenior;40454443]The fact the figures are from a "Undisclosed Source" just screams bullshit to me. Anyway, if there is an issue, it would be because 10 years ago video games were a very male dominated hobby, not it's something like 45/55 female to male. Give it a few years for those gamers to go get degrees and join the gaming industry People just seem to assume it must be the companies not hiring enough women that causes this when more likely it's just not enough women applying for such jobs[/QUOTE] No it's because women who are interested in videogames don't want to be around the toxic masculinity.
[QUOTE=Cone;40454639]or just look at the usual reaction to a girl playing online games[/QUOTE] There's always going to be a few weirdos, but if you're talking about the "NOBODY GIVES A FUCK THAT YOU'RE A WOMAN PLAYING VIDEO GAMES" reaction, it's because the woman in that situation is usually being a massive fucking attention-whore, trying to make a quick buck through donations and advertisements.
I feel that this number might increase as the mobile/"casual" gaming industry gains more traction and there is a movement away from games like DoA and Bayonetta for example. I feel like the SUPER sexist games are concentrated geographically (i.e. Japan), although admittedly there have been games like GTA/Tomb Raider in other areas of the world. Once video games become established as an activity suitable for both sexes, the stigma might be reduced.
[QUOTE=Cone;40454842]it's usually just CoD and similarly big-budget testosterone overdosed games that bother to do so. so i think games need to spread themselves out more through other media before the playerbase can expand and become more than just a bunch of nerds and dudebros,[/QUOTE] This. [editline]28th April 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=JeanLuc761;40454714]"Well, I'm a girl so I don't play games"[/QUOTE] The fuck? Who said that so I can punch them in the face?
40% male 59% trannys 1% female
[QUOTE=nikomo;40455514]There's always going to be a few weirdos, but if you're talking about the "NOBODY GIVES A FUCK THAT YOU'RE A WOMAN PLAYING VIDEO GAMES" reaction, it's because the woman in that situation is usually being a massive fucking attention-whore, trying to make a quick buck through donations and advertisements.[/QUOTE] I've also seen guys reacting like that to girls playing games solely because they dared to use their microphones. Seriously, a lot of people will just assume girls are "attention whores" even when they haven't done anything at all. Actual "attention whores" are an extremely rare occurrence. While some might claim they have never seen this happen, it's definitely a big problem that needs our attention. And really, the only thing we need to do is change our disposition and be more accepting. Maybe then people (and the media) will stop seeing gaming as an infantile "boyz only club" in the future.
[QUOTE=Rubs10;40455488]No it's because women who are interested in videogames don't want to be around the toxic masculinity.[/QUOTE] Toxic masculinity? lmao dude you're talking about an industry and activity mostly filled with dudes who most people would struggle to describe as anything related to masculine. Shit its not like this is a firehouse or a NFL team locker room.
[QUOTE=JaegerMonster;40455660]Toxic masculinity? lmao dude you're talking about an industry and activity mostly filled with dudes who most people would struggle to describe as anything related to masculine. Shit its not like this is a firehouse or a NFL team locker room.[/QUOTE] I don't think "toxic" is the right word. Childish, insecure maybe. I mean come on, let's face it. A lot of people who would consider themselves "gamers" aren't exactly what one would call the life of the party.
[QUOTE=Dr. Gestapo;40455721]I don't think "toxic" is the right word. Childish, insecure maybe. I mean come on, let's face it. A lot of people who would consider themselves "gamers" aren't exactly what one would call the life of the party.[/QUOTE] You're mixing up "gamers" and "developers". People who develop games aren't the same as people who play them. Most of them are professionals working to get paid, I doubt they'd care much if you got a dick or vagina. This is professional environment, not COD lobby.
I'd consider the ratio of men to women in our "democratic" "parliament" to be an issue more in need of concern than sexes involved in a particular profession. Patriarchy is one of many scarily prevalent problems mostly ignored in our modern societies.
[QUOTE=Zambies!;40454401]Is it because women aren't interested in the Video Game field? Or is there underlying sexism? Or both? I'm not educated on this topic.[/QUOTE] It's a chicken and egg thing. Lack of women causes underlying sexism (and overt sexism) and that in turn reduces female interest in the industry for obvious reasons. [QUOTE=Coffee;40454441]It's because boys and girls are brought up to adhere to their social norms which are expected in their culture.[/QUOTE] Also this. [QUOTE=ksenior;40454580]Yea, lets offer higher wages to women, that's totally not sexist :downs:[/QUOTE] It's also sexist to offer higher wages to men, but that happens anyway. You guys should all take a look at this report. It's from 2005, but much of it still holds true. [url]http://www.igda.org/sites/default/files/IGDA_DeveloperDemographics_Oct05.pdf[/url] Particularly, the bottom of page 12.
[QUOTE=itisjuly;40455732]You're mixing up "gamers" and "developers". People who develop games aren't the same as people who play them. Most of them are professionals working to get paid, I doubt they'd care much if you got a dick or vagina. This is professional environment, not COD lobby.[/QUOTE] Even female developer Amy Hennig says that there weren't any cases of sexism at her job. [QUOTE]Woman in a man's world: As one of very few women in senior creative positions in the video game industry, Hennig is often asked about sexism and challenges she has faced. But she says it's not an issue. "Usually it has been men who gave me the opportunities I have had. I think this is a young enough and progressive enough industry that there just isn't any of that."[/QUOTE] [URL="http://articles.latimes.com/2010/feb/07/business/la-fi-himi7-2010feb07"]Source[/URL] And even if the industry itself was sexist internally (please give me some examples because I have never heard a female dev complain), why not just develope games independent?
I would like to see some evidence that it's women being dissuaded from going into the videogames industry because of the attitudes of men within that industry, or whether it's a case of them just not being on average as interested in the industry as men. I have seen various things like that #1reasonwhy thing but never actually anything rigorous, just anecdotal evidence the same you would find anywhere else. I cannot speak for others, but I genuinely do not care if other people were gonna discriminate against me if I went into a particular field, if I care about the field I am going into it, if you are so easily turned away from a field because you think people might discriminate against you, you need to question whether you care enough about that field to even go into it.
[QUOTE=Zambies!;40454401]Is it because women aren't interested in the Video Game field? Or is there underlying sexism? Or both? I'm not educated on this topic.[/QUOTE] It's both but the bizarre sexism is going to feed into women not giving much of a fuck.
[QUOTE=Van-man;40454589]Want a prime example on why there's few women in the video game industry? then take a gander at the first few Tomb Raider games.[/QUOTE] Yeah because its totally the 1990s still. You may as well join those retards who think videogames can't be an an art form on the level of film or books because doom.
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