A Feminist Gaming Manifesto
Although it’s more directed at RPGers, the essay “A Feminist Gaming Manifesto” (part one, part two) makes some excellent points about the nature of gaming as applied to men and women, as well as the basic differences between the genders. He has a list of 20 points where his “gender privilege” of being male kicks in. Here are some that I’ve run across in my own life:
“5. I can be pretty sure of having my voice heard in a group in which I am the only member of my gender.” [a.k.a. I Am Not A Soccermom]
“8. I can speak in public to a powerful group without putting my gender on trial.”
“9. I am never asked to speak for all the people of my gender.”
“12. I can take a job with an affirmative action employer without having my co-workers on the job suspect that I got it because of my gender.”
The point of the essay is to demonstrate to game designers that there is a reason that a large percentage of gamers is male: because women feel out of place in the community. He asks men to quit being so defensive when points are brought up and to listen to what they’re being told rather than to deny it.
The funny thing about ARGs is that the gaming community is pretty evenly split 50/50 between men and women. I’m not sure what the magic bullet is there. Strong women characters? A welcoming community? I’m sure there’s some good meta discussion material, though.
April 19th, 2006 at 12:28 am
The magic bullet is a lack of retarded men.
I’m still waiting for that day, too.