Why aren't girls into gaming?

[whyarecarrots]

Thought I will say for some reason i much prefer getting brow beat, trashed talked and heckled by a female gamer.

of course, that could just be my own warped psyche at work.

I dread to think what Freud would have deduced had he got hold of that...

Am I somehow abnormal in that I have very rarely experienced the 'trash-talking' that online games are famous for? There is the occasional troll on the CSS server I normally play on, but the community there seems generally friendly, and TF2, Insurgency and Age of Chivalry all seem largely pleasant.
May be because I have my voice chat turned off ingame mostly and talk to friends via skype however...

Anyway, slightly more to the point, my experience of female gamers is incredibly limited; one of (or possibly both) one friend's sisters game, althogh whethey they play online or not I don't know, 1 girl who played the Sims, and my mum and sister who use the DS brain-training thingy...
Even playing Guild Wars they were few and far between, well, those who made it plain that they were female that is (Rather ironically one (male) guild member's main character was female and called Edwina; if anyone dared call him Edwina rather than Ed... well, the results were rather amusing).
The few incidences of 'cyber' that i saw taking place within towns were probably the scariest aspect of the game; as has already been said, you have to wonder how many of them were actually female

(Ahh, good old Firefox; my pc restarted to update half way through me writing this, and I thought I'd lost it)

edit:

All this talk about getting girls into gaming, yet precious little advice on how gamers can get into girls.

*despairs*

 

[sallene]

To me finding a girl gamer was like finding a roach, where there was one there were many more.
/joke


But yeah I found once I met one girl gamer I met quite a few more after that. Dont know what triggered it but I dont really play online like I used to so I cant really say what it would be like now.

 

[sky14kemea]

to be fair, i grew up watching and playing games, my first game was sonic for the sega
anyway, i usually choose male usernames, or whenever someone asks me i tend to say im male, sometimes people auto think im male anyway, must be my personality in the chatroom situation XD

 

[Pistol.Princess]

They are but for the most part...

GIRLS DON'T LIKE SHOOTERS OR COMPETATIVE GAMES!

Girl Gamers like RPG's, Sims and Platformers.

They also like Legend of Zelda... A lot.

That is just silly, I prefer halo/counterstrike/left4dead over the rpg's Sure I have a level 80 orc hunter (WoW), and a 20 N/me(guildwars) but just because I have them does not mean that I don't play others.

I do not have a facebook/myspace and I could care less about celebrities.

And seriously when you see that spartan do a spin because you know you got that guy in the head or when you hear "HEADSHOT" it really does bring a smile to my face.

 

[geldonyetich]

Another one-post wonder, it seems. Granted, I'm lucky I escaped unscathed from my tongue-in-cheek jab at pulling a reversal on the "girls in gaming" saying.

 

[whyarecarrots]

May I do the reporting, or would you like the honour?

 

[geldonyetich]

The more the merrier, I always say.

 

[Clemenstation]

Awesome.

 

[Danglybits]

I think there's more out there than most people think, but I also think that there's still a pretty huge divide, and that there are a few troubling reasons for it.

First, there's the multiplayer thing that this thread has already commented on over and over. Female gamers are subject to harassment when they play. It's disgusting, and it's why girls either don't play online games or hide their gender when doing so.

Second, there's the fact that almost all depictions of women in games are grossly offensive; they are unrealistic portrayals that assign women value based on degrading qualities (unlike the unrealistic super-masculine portrayals, which are ridiculously empowering; men in games are unstoppable superpowered dominant leaders, while females in games are sex objects, victims, followers, and eye candy). This doesn't bother some women, but saying that it doesn't turn a lot of women away is ridiculous.

Third, there's the overwhelmingly masculine characterization of the player characters. Something that I've noticed is that more women tend to play games in which the player character is less gendered. Lots of women play games like The Sims, where there is no gendering of the player character whatsoever, or like World of Warcraft, where it is possible to play a character that is more in line with their actual gender. Even games with female protagonists, like Tomb Raider and No One Lives Forever, feature player characters that are very masculine, even if they do happen to be female. I would suggest that you'll find a lot more women playing a less-gendered game like Half-Life than a more-gendered one like Serious Sam or Duke Nukem.

I think the apart from that the biggest problem we face are the chicks who are all like "TEE HEEE I'M A GIRL! ~~~~ <3 <3 LIKE OHMAHGAWD..." So if you don't like the attention a.) stop announcing you're a chick, b.) don't giggle or suck it up if a guy is being an idiot (if you're in a FPS head shot + repetition. seriously, come on now) and c.) FRIENDS DON'T LET FRIENDS BE THE BIMBO.

If more than 5% of these people in games are actually female I will eat my hat

Well said and I agree and I think it's part of why so many guys have trouble getting their girlfriends to play games when they don't already, it's hard not to look at your boy friend playing games where girls are getting made fun of or there is an eye candy character just a little cock eyed. And I think women's perceptions of games need to change because they aren't all like that. And not all male gamers are fucktards.

 

[Phyroxis]

Why aren't girls into gaming?

Socialization

You have something there.

Females are typically, from early development on, more social than males. Gaming has been shown to be a compulsive habit sprung from a lack of social interaction, or as an escape from "real life" bullying.

Definitely not the case in all situations, but certainly a factor in some.

Oh really, where has that been "shown"? Given that a recent poll by Pew showed that over 50% of American adults play games, over 80% of adults aged 18-29 and over 95% of teens, I'd say gaming is a mainstream form of entertainment, and your crap about gaming springing from "bullying" and "lack of social interaction" is nothing more than some lame stereotype BS.

Here. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7746471.stm]

I'll even quote for you.

"This gaming problem is a result of the society we live in today," Mr Bakker told BBC News. "Eighty per cent of the young people we see have been bullied at school and feel isolated. Many of the symptoms they have can be solved by going back to good old fashioned communication."


You're generalizing to a a broad audience. We're talking about female gamers, and why they don't play.

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

They are but for the most part...

GIRLS DON'T LIKE SHOOTERS OR COMPETATIVE GAMES!

Girl Gamers like RPG's, Sims and Platformers.

They also like Legend of Zelda... A lot.

That is just silly, I prefer halo/counterstrike/left4dead over the rpg's Sure I have a level 80 orc hunter (WoW), and a 20 N/me(guildwars) but just because I have them does not mean that I don't play others.

I do not have a facebook/myspace and I could care less about celebrities.

And seriously when you see that spartan do a spin because you know you got that guy in the head or when you hear "HEADSHOT" it really does bring a smile to my face.

Hmmm, I guess I'm wrong then, but for the most part I find that female gamers and online shooters don't really go together. I know plenty of girls that consider themselves gamers, and NONE of them really like shooters, they dislike the "macho twitchiness" of them.

 

[Platinum117]

Used to know a girl who played Halo 2, wasn't overweight or ugly either, pretty damn good looking actually. Though she actually enjoyed flirting with guys over XBL so i geuss you really can't say much about the girl Gamer population without there being some exceptions.

 

[Platinum117]

Why aren't girls into gaming?

Socialization

You have something there.

Females are typically, from early development on, more social than males. Gaming has been shown to be a compulsive habit sprung from a lack of social interaction, or as an escape from "real life" bullying.

Definitely not the case in all situations, but certainly a factor in some.

Oh really, where has that been "shown"? Given that a recent poll by Pew showed that over 50% of American adults play games, over 80% of adults aged 18-29 and over 95% of teens, I'd say gaming is a mainstream form of entertainment, and your crap about gaming springing from "bullying" and "lack of social interaction" is nothing more than some lame stereotype BS.

Here. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7746471.stm]

I'll even quote for you.

"This gaming problem is a result of the society we live in today," Mr Bakker told BBC News. "Eighty per cent of the young people we see have been bullied at school and feel isolated. Many of the symptoms they have can be solved by going back to good old fashioned communication."


You're generalizing to a a broad audience. We're talking about female gamers, and why they don't play.

What the hell, i got into gaming because my parents bought me Halo and my first Xbox when i was 11. I certainly wasn't being bullied and i still interact with people though i steer clear from the people who i consider to be 'fake' or 'friend whores'... becuase they drive me insane. im dude btw >.>

 

[CmdrGoob]

Why aren't girls into gaming?

Socialization

You have something there.

Females are typically, from early development on, more social than males. Gaming has been shown to be a compulsive habit sprung from a lack of social interaction, or as an escape from "real life" bullying.

Definitely not the case in all situations, but certainly a factor in some.

Oh really, where has that been "shown"? Given that a recent poll by Pew showed that over 50% of American adults play games, over 80% of adults aged 18-29 and over 95% of teens, I'd say gaming is a mainstream form of entertainment, and your crap about gaming springing from "bullying" and "lack of social interaction" is nothing more than some lame stereotype BS.

Here. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7746471.stm]

I'll even quote for you.

"This gaming problem is a result of the society we live in today," Mr Bakker told BBC News. "Eighty per cent of the young people we see have been bullied at school and feel isolated. Many of the symptoms they have can be solved by going back to good old fashioned communication."


You're generalizing to a a broad audience. We're talking about female gamers, and why they don't play.

Hahaha, that's about compulsive gamers, silly. Not gamers, compulsive gamers. That's like telling people who drink a nice glass of wine regularly that they do it because they're alcoholics.

 

[Pistol.Princess]

I guess part of this comes down to everyones definition of "Gamer" What does it consist of?

For me it means that this person is good at more than one game and plays on a fairly competitive level with skill and accuracy.

It does not include playing an Rpg/fps once or twice a week, or only knowing how to play one game to me these people are just players of a game.

 

[Phyroxis]

Why aren't girls into gaming?

Socialization

You have something there.

Females are typically, from early development on, more social than males. Gaming has been shown to be a compulsive habit sprung from a lack of social interaction, or as an escape from "real life" bullying.

Definitely not the case in all situations, but certainly a factor in some.

Oh really, where has that been "shown"? Given that a recent poll by Pew showed that over 50% of American adults play games, over 80% of adults aged 18-29 and over 95% of teens, I'd say gaming is a mainstream form of entertainment, and your crap about gaming springing from "bullying" and "lack of social interaction" is nothing more than some lame stereotype BS.

Here. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7746471.stm]

I'll even quote for you.

"This gaming problem is a result of the society we live in today," Mr Bakker told BBC News. "Eighty per cent of the young people we see have been bullied at school and feel isolated. Many of the symptoms they have can be solved by going back to good old fashioned communication."


You're generalizing to a a broad audience. We're talking about female gamers, and why they don't play.

What the hell, i got into gaming because my parents bought me Halo and my first Xbox when i was 11. I certainly wasn't being bullied and i still interact with people though i steer clear from the people who i consider to be 'fake' or 'friend whores'... becuase they drive me insane. im dude btw >.>

Sorry.. forgot to tell you.. wait, no I didnt.. but anyway. I'm not talking about you.


Situations that involve SOME people do not involve ALL people, I even specifically stated in my OP that this only applied in SOME CASES.

You, by your own anecdote, are not included in or in any way related to this study, clearly. So why do you even bother defending yourself, when you're not being spoken about in the first place?

 

[Phyroxis]

Why aren't girls into gaming?

Socialization

You have something there.

Females are typically, from early development on, more social than males. Gaming has been shown to be a compulsive habit sprung from a lack of social interaction, or as an escape from "real life" bullying.

Definitely not the case in all situations, but certainly a factor in some.

Oh really, where has that been "shown"? Given that a recent poll by Pew showed that over 50% of American adults play games, over 80% of adults aged 18-29 and over 95% of teens, I'd say gaming is a mainstream form of entertainment, and your crap about gaming springing from "bullying" and "lack of social interaction" is nothing more than some lame stereotype BS.

Here. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7746471.stm]

I'll even quote for you.

"This gaming problem is a result of the society we live in today," Mr Bakker told BBC News. "Eighty per cent of the young people we see have been bullied at school and feel isolated. Many of the symptoms they have can be solved by going back to good old fashioned communication."


You're generalizing to a a broad audience. We're talking about female gamers, and why they don't play.

Hahaha, that's about compulsive gamers, silly. Not gamers, compulsive gamers. That's like telling people who drink a nice glass of wine regularly that they do it because they're alcoholics.

Except that these gamers were driven to gaming due to being extreme social outcasts. One could then speculate, based on that given data, that some gamers are driven to gaming because of minor social experiences. It sets up gaming as a legitimate escape for socially wounded males.

Ultimately this is all pointless, though, because we were talking about the difference between why females and males play, and you've given case to blow the ENTIRE thing out of proportion.

All my OP said was that SOME male gamers are drawn to gaming through a lack of socialization. It also said that MORE male gamers are drawn to gaming through a lack of socialization than FEMALE gamers BECAUSE females are more inclined to socialization.

 

[742]

Generally speaking, that is. I realize that there are some girls on here; but it seems that y'all are the exception to the rule. I'm just curious: Why is the female-to-male ratio amongst gamers so low?

no there arent, this is the internet, we arent real here. i DO NOT EXIST and AM NOT typing this. really, im just a figment of my own imagination (which doesnt exist at the moment, because if i DID exist i would be using the internet, thus nullifying my existence)

i dont really play FPS's online and tend to avoid the scummier communities though, so i dont get most of this shit. i also use this name and prefer text chat to voice chat, so that might kinda disguise the fact a little tiny bit.

 

[CmdrGoob]

Why aren't girls into gaming?

Socialization

You have something there.

Females are typically, from early development on, more social than males. Gaming has been shown to be a compulsive habit sprung from a lack of social interaction, or as an escape from "real life" bullying.

Definitely not the case in all situations, but certainly a factor in some.

Oh really, where has that been "shown"? Given that a recent poll by Pew showed that over 50% of American adults play games, over 80% of adults aged 18-29 and over 95% of teens, I'd say gaming is a mainstream form of entertainment, and your crap about gaming springing from "bullying" and "lack of social interaction" is nothing more than some lame stereotype BS.

Here. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7746471.stm]

I'll even quote for you.

"This gaming problem is a result of the society we live in today," Mr Bakker told BBC News. "Eighty per cent of the young people we see have been bullied at school and feel isolated. Many of the symptoms they have can be solved by going back to good old fashioned communication."


You're generalizing to a a broad audience. We're talking about female gamers, and why they don't play.

Hahaha, that's about compulsive gamers, silly. Not gamers, compulsive gamers. That's like telling people who drink a nice glass of wine regularly that they do it because they're alcoholics.

Except that these gamers were driven to gaming due to being extreme social outcasts. One could then speculate, based on that given data, that some gamers are driven to gaming because of minor social experiences. It sets up gaming as a legitimate escape for socially wounded males.

Ultimately this is all pointless, though, because we were talking about the difference between why females and males play, and you've given case to blow the ENTIRE thing out of proportion.

All my OP said was that SOME male gamers are drawn to gaming through a lack of socialization. It also said that MORE male gamers are drawn to gaming through a lack of socialization than FEMALE gamers BECAUSE females are more inclined to socialization.

You're talking about some tiny fraction of compulsive gamers of the 95% of teenagers or 80% of adults aged 18-29 who play games. Games are a mainstream form of entertainment now. The idea that "socially wounded males" are so significant in the demographic of gamers that they determine the sex distribution of gamers is based on stupid stereoptypes of gamers being male nerds. You don't think maybe it's the stereotype that gamers are male nerds that has more to do with it?