Gaming and Sexism

I was having a pensive moment earlier and reading the news on the BBC website. What really caught my eye was an article with the title "Sexual Harrassment In The World of Video Gaming" and it was something that I wondered what they would have to say about it. Although I am frankly very shocked that no one noticed this before.

Traditionally the realms of the computer game world have been the reserve of men, even 20+ years since gaming began the majority of gaming and particularly online gaming is taken part with by men. Its appalling to read of how some women are even subject to verbal abuse as a result of them not being men in a macho environment. I myself have had countless men throwing abusive comments towards me while I have been playing on my X-Box. One particular comment came from a man I was beating rather spectacularly at Burnout Revenge. He became so incensed by the fact that I was frankly wiping the floor with him that he decided that rather than flirting with me that he would prefer to say things like "so, you haven't got a boyfriend... bet you're still a virgin aren't you" and then he thought it even funnier to call me a "posh whore" because I am not an American girl, but I am an English lady. "Go back to London, Mary Poppins."

Funnily enough I did report this person and avoided them in future games. Sadly however this hasn't been an isolated incident. One of the more shocking ones I ever had involved me playing with my PSP after work. I was sat at the bus stop and playing Crisis Core and this lad I actually worked with came and started taunting me, asking when was I giving MY PSP back to my boyfriend. I looked at him and he carried on saying about how I shouldn't have been allowed to buy it on account of my sex. I was so offended I stood up and walked away, waiting for the next bus so I wouldn't have to sit next to that blundering moron.

I find people who say that women shouldn't game absolutely appalling. I also find it vile when carers came in to my home and a few of them just looked down their noses at the games consoles. What was worse was the fact that these people were women, fuelling the sexist attitude that games should be a male past time rather than something that can be enjoyed by pretty much everyone. Growing up, a lot of girls outcasted me because of my love of games and some of the boys found it funny, now I get guys who will actually flirt and try and get their hands on me... Sorry boys but I only have eyes for one!

I am proud to say that I am a Gaming Girl and I will always be a gamer.

Loves
Wendy xx