This is a subject that does pass by from time to time when I meet new people in my life. It’s something I have to deal with and accept but that doesn’t mean I can’t vent it out somewhere.
I am sick and tired of people who stereotype gamers, I hate it. It’s something I have been through since I was a kid. People would be surprised that I would play games just because I was a girl. Does it bloody matter if I am a girl or a boy? No it does not.
The kids would talk about GTA 3 in the playground at elementary school (sorry once again ma for playing it underaged) and I would join their conversation out of the blue because I would know exactly what they’re talking about. The boys would give me a weird surprising look and ask me if I had played the game. At the time I didn’t understand why, but the older I got the more I realised that girls who played games were “rare” even though we really weren’t. That’s why I ended up not liking to talk about games as often because it would be considered as different and I couldn’t be bothered with it. It’s a bit sad now when I think about it.
My interest for games were a bit different than a casual gamer because I wanted to be a designer myself which meant that the conversation would eventually come up. My studies for example, people would ask me what I was currently studying. I didn’t feel comfortable when someone would ask, especially a guy. As soon as I would tell, they would get surprised and then ask me “Wait, you play video games?” …if i study to become a designer then of course I’d have a big interest in playing as well. Some people are just blockheads. Then I suddenly notice that the guy starts acting a bit more attracted to me for some weird ass reason. Maybe they’re hoping we’d kick it and play some games or something, I don’t know. Then they would say that I don’t look like one of those and I would ask ““Those? What do you mean by those?” Of course, I already knew what the guy was about to say but I wanted to be 100% sure and hope that there is still hope in humanity when it came to the gaming community. “You don’t look like a typical gamer” …okay I am done. This is one of the lamest questions I’ve ever heard in my entire life. What the fudge does that even mean? One of “those” ? It’s like they’re trying to make up their own species or something. You know what he says next? “A fat guy who plays games in the dark and eats Taco Bell” …WTF dude. WTF. I was done talking with this dude. I excused myself asap and just walked away. Bloody moron. The sad thing is that this has happened a lot of more times before too that’s why I kept avoiding talking about it.
Recently I was hanging with my friend and I was talking about a game with her (she doesn’t game) and then her boyfriend then says “Siara should’ve been born as a guy because she’s so into games” …….So let me get this straight, you say that just because that I am a woman it is wrong to game? I have to be a man to be normal? Call me a feminist bitch but that’s bloody sexist. I got so angry when he said that. Wtf dude. Not a fond of him ever since.
I don’t avoid talking about gaming as much today because I work in the field and it’s a part of my life now. I just embrace it and accept that there are some small minded assholes out there that lives under a rock under the sea somewhere and I guess they need some education but they just aren’t smart enough to store that education inside their small minded brains. That’s why they keep choking out nonsense out of their throats. If you happen to be one of those people then try store this info and next time when you approach a woman in the gaming industry, treat her equal.
I am proud to be woman and being a part of the gaming industry.
– Siara