Tuesday 27 November 2012

1 Reason Why

I tried to make a list of my own experiences with sexism in the games industry though I came to a very quick block when I realised I've been pretty fortunate. The only time I felt truly uncomfortable was trying to play the demo for duke nukem at the gadget show, some guy stood behind me watching and gave me a fear of playing games in public ever again.
Seriously, if you see me at eurogamer, you'll see me looking at the games with a faked disdain as I make a note of what I want to buy but avoid queuing at all possibilities because someone, somewhere will be watching me.

The worse comments I've had about gaming have come from mothers. Like the one who said "haven't you grown out of it yet", the best comment "you give me hope that my son will find a partner one day"
I'm unsure if my username devilmaycare34 gives me some immunity when I comment on things at kotaku and other places. If I don't state I'm a woman they automatically accept my comment from a male perspective. I probably shouldn't have to hide.

I really feel for the women who have had the worst co workers in the world over at #1reasonwhy on twitter and I'm going to list the things I am thankful for instead.

I'm thankful that I met my partner in a Japanese class where he looked up to me and was grateful we shared lots of hobbies. He also appreciates that I buy more games than him.

I'm grateful to the customers at work that remind me they aren't all douche bags and sometimes make me feel really good about being a gamer, a designer, a seamstress.

I'm thankful to the girl last week that acted like my life was actually going somewhere and she was jealous. I'm starting my own business at rapture costumiers I've never considered it to be a momentous occasion as I'm still starting out but to this girl it was more than she had ever tried to do.

I'm grateful to my uni class for all the girls that thought I was one of the smartest people around, and even though they wouldn't always invite me to a conversation, they pocketed me in the category of - person to ask questions to. They were also really appreciative of my computer know how.

I also want to thank the guys on Kotaku that have awesome wives and know that we have brains in our bodies and not just sandwich making hands.  (Although I did tell my boyfriend to make me a sandwich yesterday and it really works both ways)

I'm immensely proud of the women who decided the games industry was their future and they fight to make people aware whilst the people they work with will read their pages and ridicule them as only people can.

Keep up the hard work ladies because you are the front line.