How Women are Treated in Game Communities

Treat them like a man, hahahah. Sorry I had to laugh at that one, I know what you mean, treat them equally but it sounded funny.

 

Yes, I meant no double-sense of course

 

This is definitely an issue in most communities. I watch a lot of competitive Super Smash Bros and whenever a woman come son stream, the chat loses their mind. I think it's ok to acknowledge how cool it is for women to be interested in the games we like, but not in the way people do it.

 

In DCUO, when a guy sees a female character, they just go right after her. They try to flirt and ask a bunch of questions, however a lot of games I play people are more respectful.

 

In my experience, girls (especially those in the 14~20something years-old range ... creepy) are usually the main focus of attention within guilds and even in the global chat. Obviously not saying that this applies to ALL girls (maybe some of my 'male' friends are actually girls and I don't even know... it's happened before) but it seems to be a rather common trend. Male players also seem to take advantage of this by roleplaying as a girl and getting free stuff... I still don't know how this crap still works >_>
Especially in Tera, those goddamn Elins are everywhere.

 

I have experienced this first hand. I don't lie about my gender when I'm playing games. I know women that do hide because of the harassment they have received though. What I've experience has been cyber sexual harassment on repeated occassions. I've run guilds and had to kick one person out for the unnecessary comments they made that were disrespectful both to me, and my husband who was also in the guild. The comments may have been directed at me, but they effected both of us.

In running that guild I had people ask my husband how I looked in a bikini and so on and so forth. Guilds after that were not quite so bad, and the last one was filled with close friends of mine that would never talk to me that way so I never had a problem.

it hasn't just been in running guilds, though, that I've run into issues. I've run into them in dungeons where, the very instant that someone finds out I'm a woman, they start making very lewd and unnecessary comments towards me. They make suggestions, or even just straight out demand something sexual from me. I don't know how much further the comments go because it's an auto ignore when it starts. For all I know, after I admit my gender and ignore them the insults could start. Heck, I've had to put an entire group on ignore before, and another time I was so enraged by it that I just closed the game out mid healing. I was hoping they would wipe when I did that.

 

I haven't actually come across this problem as a female player. I know that the problem exists, but it's certain not as big a problem any more as people make it out to be. Don't get me wrong, sexism in any form is a big deal, but I can only speak from experience, and in my experience there isn't a whole lot of it in the gaming community at the moment.

 

Times and attitudes are changing sorrowscall. And for the better too! Gamers are getting used to the idea of female gamers and hopefully at some time the nonsensical sexist notions will no longer be an issue.

 

Eh, I've never really been harassed or bothered for being a girl. I think the most I ever get is like, "You're a girl?" And then that's usually it. I mean there was like only one time where some guy started to get weird with me, and that was when I was 16 and the guy was apparently in his 20's. Since he was in my guild, I just kinda told the other members about it and they kicked him out and I never really heard about him again.

 

It really depends? Sometimes you just never get bothered for being a girl, but sometimes guys get weirdly nasty when they find out you're a girl. No one has ever really bothered me, because I'm pretty much a loner when it comes to MMO's, but my friends have had random guys get rude and nasty to them when they got found out as girl. But personally I've never had anything happen.

 

This is the reason I don't specify my gender while playing. I'd rather be an elf, a King, a warrior or anything else. It's a game and everyone's showing off their true nature which is sometimes malicious, kind or gross. I hate the sexism really but no matter your gender people are just trolls but I admit women have it worst online. Sorry for your experiences.

 

Depends a lot on the community the girl is a part of. Personally, I've never gotten any sort of issue for my gender, be it special treatment or discrimination. I guess I've been part of the right communities. I know of a lot of girls that join voice chats in MMOs and right away all the guys are either hitting on her or telling her she doesn't belong in the game. It really sucks that there are people that continue to act that way. Sexist idiots always have to ruin everything. :/

 

Women are treated pretty badly but the only game I've seen where things change is Minecraft. I feel like the community welcomes both women and men to take part in the game and they don't really care about gender.

 

There is definitely a perk in being a girl in a game filled with guys. I love it! Lol. Seriously, when i say i need help in a quest or something, they are so easy to offer help especially if you're wearing something provocative in a game. lmao no really, it's true, there are those types of clothes in a game where a girl looks like a guy because she's wearing fighting gear and all covered up but there's also those cute dresses and short shorts that definitely attracts guy's attention. It's funny because it's just an avatar. Not going to lie but I used that tactic all the time whenever i need help with something or i need money. Guys are so easy.