After discussing the importance of women in gaming, I wanted to touch base on another subject that has come up on and off over the years. And that’s over the term girl gamer. “I know, I know. Ari, that’s kind of stupid to bring up. We’re all just gamers.” But here’s the thing, just trying to claim that we’re all just gamers is stupid in of itself.
Now before you get your panties in a twist, think about it.
Despite making up almost half the percentage of gamers in comparison to men, women are the ones who are more than likely to get attacked or harassed for simply being a girl who plays video games. We’re not getting our flowers so to speak or the respect that we deserve should we try to even get into the professional side of video gaming. I mean hell even being a casual gamer, I get flack for the fact that I play a mmorpg.
I mean we remember the age old image of a girl that had the controller in her mouth. Some people decided to meme her, others got pissed off, attacked her and other female gamers for even uttering the words girl gamer. Claiming their reasoning was that it was a way to seem like you weren’t like other girls and a special snowflake. Another example of many showing that for whatever reason, women don’t like other women and will tear each other down for the sake of it.
Something my boyfriend says is what makes women so scary. In his words, “Ya’ll are just plain mean!”
And I mean, he’s not wrong.
I can’t tell you how many times I was often attacked for even saying that I was a girl gamer. I’m a girl. I play video games. So therefore, I’m a girl gamer. I’m not trying to get people to like me. I’m not trying to be special. I just like playing video games.
Sure there have been women who have done it to get attention. However, how does that affect me? I’m my own person with my own identity. What someone does with their own body does not affect what I should label myself. Whether it’s Team Siren or some random girl that shows off a picture with a controller.
I think that the whole notion that I should be concerned what other people do is a stupid one. And I think that’s what ultimately is what brings down women in gaming. It’s got to be more about playing the games then caring about what another woman wears or doesn’t wear. Who cares if she’s doing it to get views? How does that effect you?
It doesn’t.
Even when I’ve done vtubing and played video games, I don’t concern myself with what other vtubers do. Some are lewd tubers. Some aren’t. All I care about is playing the game and sharing the games that I love. That is all that should matter.
So for old times sake, I’ll say it. Hi, I’m Aridane. I’m a girl gamer. Always have been a girl gamer. I’m not saying that to get guys to like me. I’ve got a boyfriend and his love and affection is the only thing that matters. I didn’t say I’m a girl gamer to get his love and his affection. I got that by simply being me. I am who I am and that is what matters and should matter.
Let this be a lesson: Care less about what people do. If you love gaming then focus more on the games you love. It’ll bring you more happiness in the end.
What do you think? Do you think that the term girl gamer deserved the negative rep that it received years ago? Let me know in the comments below. Like this post? Don’t forget to share it with your friends. Want to see more or keep up with the latest? Hit the subscribe button. Want to support me? Check out my tip jar.
Until next time.
When I think of the term “girl gamer”, usually that image of a woman with a controller in her mouth (or covering parts of her body) immediately come to mind. Not because that’s how I see all women who play video games.
Rather, it’s because, back in the mid 2000s, it was impossible to join even the best-intended gaming communities without see someone using such images mostly to get attention vs. having something to say and interact with the community other than just to say “Hey boys…” wink, wink.
It contributed to the treatment of female gamers like they were a commodity to be fought over. It became difficult for non-attention seeking girl gamers to be able to use the term without being harassed over it for some reason.
I always enjoyed actual girl gamers in the community because, for me, it broke the false notion that girls don’t (or shouldn’t) play video games. We need them just as much as in any other area in life because otherwise we never learn to understand each other and we just hide behind “Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus” nonsense.