Poll: Girl Gamers: offended by stereotypes?

[Robert Ewing]

Maybe the gamer girl stereotype is different where you're from. Over here in Britain gamer girls are just girls that pretend to enjoy nerdy things in order to acquire a boyfriend. They wear thick framed glasses, get a modest hair cut and wear hipster clothing, and play games with no idea on what to do in them.


This is best explained by the 'idiot nerd girl' meme.

Spoiler

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=idiot+nerd+girl&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi&biw=1920&bih=979

 

[Ryu890]

For clarification:

"Not actually a girl" - You're really just a dude pretended to a be a chick. Usually where you can select your gender and don't have to "prove."
"You must be ugly" - You're a gamer because you fail at being "girly" and therefore are ugly.
"You don't play videogames" - Usually accompanied by dismissal of your favorite games, or even your game library as not being games. This includes the idea that casual games aren't games and playing casually is a crime (easier difficulty etc.)


I know these aren't all of them, but these are the ones I encounter the most.

There will always be stereotypes, duh, and sometimes they are funny. I laugh at some of them, most of the actually even when they apply to me. "You don't play videogames" is kinda my favorite, because it's like "and I can you don't either because you don't play " But I was watching G4 tv today with my brother and I couldn't help but notice that all the female hosts, while attractive (one debatable but whatever) they were idiots, at least about gaming and technology. I understand that this whole channel is for guys, geeky, nerdy guys. But when they give a girl a role where she's supposed at least somewhat knowledgeable, can you at least give her the appearance of being in the know? Now I'm not claiming to be some gaming/tech wiz and extremely attractive (though I believe I am somewhat decent, in both categories) why can't they give the appearance that there are girls out there like this? I understand they're going for sex appeal, I'm not stupid, but this seriously ticked me off.


I can hardly go into Gamestop without being "attacked" by sales reps (all male) who see me browsing (reading boxes and such) and think I don't know what I'm looking for, or flirt with me. It just gets awkward when I'm with my brother or boyfriend.

Now tomorrow this issue isn't going to bother me nearly as much, I understand, but I can't immagine I'm the only one who's starting to get sick and tired of "omg u a grl? srsly? want 2 have sx?" -,-


So what are your stories/ideas on the subject? Do you think women are prejudiced against in gaming?

Too be perfectly honest, I'm a bit frustrated with the numerous girls who claim that video games are a 'guy thing', without even trying them.

Admittidly this was mostly from my Debate leauge, where several of the parents have taught their kids that video games are the work of the devil but still..... It gets alittle irritatiing.


Nonetheless, I can understand where you're coming from. Steryotypes are annoying 90% of the time, and I hear that this is doubly the case with females.

 

[Hipsy_Gypsy]

I feel the need to add a few points to these, despite agreeing with the stereotyping being wrong. For the "Female gamers are ugly" - Male gamers are generally assumed to resemble sheldon off the big bang theory or comicbook guy off the simpsons. People just assume gamers are ugly due to the fairly inactive nature of gaming. Granted, being "victimised" within your own circle must suck.

"Not really female" - To be fair, you get a lot of men pretending to be women (especially on MMOs, either to gain something from desperate men online, or for their own gratification. Why it matters what your gender is or why they have any right to know, let alone receive proof is a different matter entirely.

And the last Is "Not a real gamer" "Suck at video games because of your gender", while these are stereotypes and are largely incorrect, there is no smoke without fire.

I have met many women who I've gotten friendly with and have greatly overstated their interest in gaming or ability at it. When someone tells you they are an avid gamer and then they turn out to play the sims once in a blue-moon and check their farmville once a week, it can be a bit disappointing if you were hoping to sit down and play some sort of co-op game.

Likewise, it's annoying when people brag about "kicking your arse" and such, and having completed all these difficult games, then you're having to tell them that they are using the wrong shoulder button and other very basic things.

These things are annoying regardless of gender, however my personal experience has been predominantly with women doing this.

Of course despite everything else, some people just like to be arseholes. Not honestly sure I had a point to make here, just felt like playing devils advocate a little.

Ditto.

From my own experience... I haven't received any form of abuse from this stereotype at all, if I have, it was in extremely small doses so it didn't bother me or I just didn't really notice and brushed it off. However, I suppose my opinion on the matter is subject to change if I start having it thrown at me. On the other hand, I would probably just get a bit cantankerous towards the person throwing said insults, stereotypes and whatever else that they muster and maybe hurl a teeny tiny of abuse at them if they push me over the edge with it.

x

 

[FamoFunk]

umm, hoestly, I don't give a shit. Maybe because I've never been ripped into for being Female? (Apart from "omg, u grl" which is nothing).

I don't like the term "Girl gamer" either, which is why I guess I don't take notice.

 

[Sordak]

in todays world everyone is offendet by anything.

in my opinion you should be sent to jail for beeing offendet by anything whatsoever..

 

[Colour Scientist]

I don't play games online ( which tends to receive more of the reaction that the fact that I'm a girl) so I never really encounter the stereotypes.

IRL people don't tend to react to it at all and if they do it's moreso cause I don't come across as nerdy rather than that I'm not a guy. It doesn't normally come up anyway unless there's a conversation going on about games. It's not like I walk around carrying consoles going " LOOK AT ME, I PLAY VIDEOGAMES", it's not a special thing.

 

[Weaver]

I know a chick who has a platinum trophy in Demon's Souls. She's hardcore. Also a very adept programmer.

 

[OneEyeX]

I get annoyed by these. I demolished any lingering doubts at my college when I dominated in several games at the campus-wide video game tournament, though. I took first place in two games, and second in two more. When I worked at GameStop a few years ago, a lot of guys either questioned if I really worked there/was qualified, or treated me like the second coming or something. I was the first girl to ever work there.

I got the reputation of being the most capable gamer in my dorm, though. I played a lot of co-op with guys in my dorm, and I got asked to help out in games a lot. A few guys have resented me for beating them in games, though.

At the tournament, though, a lot of the guys just found it funny that I was dominating everyone in the fighting games. I took first place in Fatal Fury on the Sega Genesis, and some guy came in to watch half-way through. He was behind the couch, so he couldn't see who was playing. The conversation went like this:

"Wow, who is playing that huge mexican wrestler guy? He's kicking ass."
"The tiny girl on the end of the couch."
"...What?"
xD

I have never heard a more cohesively grey story about "How I'm good at Video games and also have a Vag."

 

[Hoplon]

*snip* This is either down to the manner in which I present myself (the contents of my pants is no concern of yours), me being so hideously ugly it permeates through my characters *snip*

*Snerk* Yeah i was just thinking that the other day, no totally i was.

As a male gamer i have witnessed this, it's frankly just pathetic and annoying because it gets in the was of getting on with the damn game.

 

[fragmaster09]

about the TV thing:

The Gadget Show... 3 men & 1 woman presenting it... in order of tech knowledge it's:
The Bald Guy
The Woman
The Black Guy(not racist - the other 3 are white, and he has no other quality to make him stand out)
The Overly Posh Talking Man In his 50/60's

and the Bald guy only knows more because he is... 'high' on the 'geekometre',

yeah, it's not ONLY about gaming, but rather Tech in general

watch the show, it's child-friendly(no profanity, no vulgar jokes or anything), and it either suggests good, affordable tech or it tells you about things that are free and useful (although all prices are in £GBP)

 

[debossman21]

as a guy, i think its pretty sexy when a girl gamer can whoop my ass with negligible effort, plus stereotypes are just WRONG

 

[GigaHz]

I think many of these problems would stop if you didn't call yourself a girl gamer and instead referred to yourself as a gamer. You want these stereotypes to stop? Simply don't react to these issues.

The quicker female gamers learn to stop drawing attention to themselves, intentionally or not, the quicker the term gamer will be synonymous with both men and women. The truth is, I think a vast majority of "girl gamers" take pride in the title. What they don't realize is by labelling themselves as such, they are creating a divide between themselves and the average gamer.

I have seen both extremes. I have seen girls who flaunt their (real) girl gamer status to draw attention from the boys and maybe even get some special items/favours in the process, never batting an eye about it. Then I've seen girls who try to be as inconspicuous as possible and just enjoy the game, almost incognito. Both of which seem like the wrong way to go. It's up to you ladies to find a good balance.

But you girls get offended? No way! So does pretty much every gamer that plays an online game. And the great part about being considered as an equal is taking part in the agony. The good news is it's nothing that can't be fixed with the right attitude. And for your offline problems, shrug it off. It is not your job to correct their ignorance, and you have nothing to prove to them. If they want to believe that you're an unattractive, man playing a female character, who also can't play video games well, let them think that. How does it affect you at all?

 

[Amberella]

I'm a girl gamer and I've been playing games since early childhood! lol. Basically when I could hold a controller or the mouse. xD Still play my sega from time to time. I'm a beautiful red head and I love my video games! I love to boost my ego! Even met my fiancé on a gaming forum. haha. <3

 

[Mibelle816]

I'm a girl, and I play video games, but I dont consider myself a girl gamer. Hell at Married, 24 and 8 months pregnant can I even still be a "girl"? I love video games, have since my SNES days, but I'm not picky. I like playing the "casual" games just as much as the serious games (did I really just type "serious games"?) I liked winding down with a relaxing game of peggle just as much as getting online and playing COD. I would never be so presumptious as to brag about my abilities, because honestly, I'm not that good at most FPSs. I usually end up in the middle or bottom as far as kills go because seriously how is there someone behind me at all times?! I just can't get the hang of looking around when I play I guess.

Games like Fallout 3, Oblivion, Dragon Age, I beat those way before my Husband or brother in law, and I defenetly give them tips while they play, but they have me beat hands down on 2d fighters or first person shooters, and usually on racing games (but I'm a horrible driver in real life too...)even though I enjoy playing those games too.

So I get a bit offended that as a girl who likes video games that it's almost like I'm expected to be better than guys at games, or its like "why do you even play." Either that, or when they find out that I'm not that great at some games, they figure I must be faking it for some reason. Plenty of guys out there arent particulary good at games...I mean, someone has to be coming in last, but I doubt they are ever doubted in their reason for playing like girls are. Can't I enjoy my 6 kills in black ops and not be accused of playing to impress a guy? Just because I'm not Rambo doesn't mean I'm not having fun.

Also, I have never had anyone online assume that I am ugly for being a girl. Its the opposite, and thats just as annoying. I don't talk anymore, but when I did it was always guys hitting on me. I dont mean to sound ungrateful, but I don't consider myself attractive, so when I think I'm having a good conversation with someone and they all of a sudden ask what I look like and if I can send them a picture, and they want my facebook info, I get bummed out. I think now its way more common that guys think that girls who are into video games look like the girls on G4, and I defenetly dont.

 

[Chemical Alia]

I rarely use voice chat, so it's not really something I deal with. Even when I played a lot of MP Gears of War and the occasional idiot gave me a hard time over it, it's hard to care about what strangers think enough to feel offended. I've always worked in male-dominated jobs and deal with those stereotypes, maybe that's why it seems so unimportant to me.

 

[AmayaOnnaOtaku]

I am a female gamer and I have enjoyed gaming for over 25 years. My mother is the one who actually introduced me to gaming. I have dealt with all the stereotypes. And Yes when a group of guys hears a woman say "I play WOW" or sees a woman buying new parts for her beast of a PC. Its like setting out a porterhouse steak for a pack of starving wolves. I have dated gamers and non gamers a like. Plus the whole "goth girl" in the geek realm doesn't hurt either

 

[JaceArveduin]

I usually just assume all people I'm playing with are male until proven otherwise (depending on the game, I'll usually either take their word or just play along). It's not nice, but it's not that I care that there are womenz on my interwebz, it's just that I'm fairly sure half of them are guys just trying to be attention whores.