This is What I'm talking About(link)
So I am a gamer, its true. Although I don't play all the
fancy console or PC games that my friends Ethan or Carl are always raving
about. I mostly play hand held games, like Pokemon, or Zelda, games such as
that. Personally I haven't been exposed to really offensive comments about my
gender. However I do know that many women out there experience rude comments,
threats and put-downs just because they are of a different gender. That just
seems wrong, video games are open for all people to play, not just guys.
There's a feminist culture critic out the stereotyping of
female gamer's. She has received many threats, such as bomb threats and public
shooting, to her public talks. This women's name is Anita Sarkeesian and until
Tuesday, she had never felt the need to cancel a talk. The day before the talk
at Utah State University was scheduled; members of the schools administrative
received an email. It said that "This will be the deadliest school
shooting in American history, and I'm giving you a chance to stop it,". I
find this wrong; people don't seem to understand that females deserve the same
treatment as male gamer's. A video game is a form of entertainment that many
people out there enjoy and many people are good at it, even girls.
On chat boards and game forums, the talks have become so
offensive towards game designers and female gamer's that protesters of such
stereotyping are calling out on the big bucks game companies to break their
silence on the matter. Many representatives of said big companies such as
Activision Blizzard decided not to comment on the requests. Many people think
such harassment is wrong and that anyone should be able to enjoy what they love
and not be restricted by the biased opinions of others. I have been told that
there's no way that I could be a serious gamer just because I am female. I've
gotten comments from people around me when I'm playing on my DS in public.
Things like "Who plays hand-helds? Well she IS a girl so it makes
sense" and such comments like that. Usually it simply makes me want to
chuck a controller at their face. But I don't seeing as how I'd A) Get in
trouble and B) Give female gamer's a bad name.
You may have heard about the #GamerGate controversy, which
is what this is all about. I believe anyone should have the right to do what
they want, regardless of their gender. Female gamers have the right to play
video games. This is a huge deal and I believe that if we cause enough uproar
about this topic, the companies will break their silence.
