Discussion space 4 the final essay....

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Today's discourse about women and games, then, needs to be seen against a background of a wider culture war against what are seen to be male values. I realize that, consumer culture and biological make-up are important to women and computer games. But then again, it could be that although girls play games, games are not a focal point in their social lives in the same way they seem to be for boys. I think, one reason for this is because game playing is not yet a widely popular activity among young girls (party due to the lack of choice in games that appeal to girls). These girl gamers want to see female characters they can relate to, identify with, and feel proud to play. Also, some of the female computer game characters such as “Lara Croft” is negatively affecting women by the ideals of physical beauty that make them feel pressure to conform to unrealistic and dangerous standards of beauty and resent having to deal with those standards in their games as well!!!! In addition, girl gamers might also resent being left out of games via a lack of female characters and being portrayed as weak or helpless.

Moreover, there are not enough women working in certain roles in the videogame industry which causes occupational segregation, or a gender gap to exist in the process of making games. Games products, indicted as broadly 'boys' toys', are held to reinforce games industry processes that are skewed toward male, rather than female jobs. There appears to be a chicken and egg problem: men write games that men like playing - games with an emphasis on guns and cars. In turn, such products seem to attract men to the industry and its processes more than women. These facts already expose as crude the idea that, somehow, boys simply design games that generate jobs only for boys. Nevertheless, the issue of sexism in the making and use of computer games seems will never end. In the toy industry, manufacturers maintain that, once sexual difference kicks in after three years old, they are only responding to what the child market wants - they are not creating a gendered demand, it is simply out there- people see human nature as the one exception to today's endlessly alleged world of accelerating change..more so to the belief that, some sex differences will always endure, being biologically founded.




Ps: hope all of the above make sense!!!! (Not too organized..but some random thoughts) :-D

Saturday, May 20, 2006

THK U EVERY1..4 ur comments.... :-)

Friday, May 19, 2006

Hi Sheba and Lois
Certainly an interesting discussion about gender differences in the computer world in general and in the gaming world in particular.
Sheba you say that you “wish girl gamers weren’t so rare” and that you don’t think the problem is lack of girly games per-se., but rather the stereotypisation of video games are a ‘guys thing’.

Why do you think this is happening, and Lois, why do you think society does not refer to women as geeks? Is it because the boys beat us (girls) to it? Is it because they were their first? Or is it to do with a much more deeply entrenched stereotyping of women as the nurturers and men as worriers ?

Are traditional gender role still at play in 21st century society where the only hunting skills needed are pushing a supermarket trolley?

Do males feel that they need a space where they can engage in worrier type activities Are these naturally inherent in males?

Some big questions here- I feel a topic emerging ,,,,,,,,,

As discussed in class...the computer culture has become linked to a characteristically masculine worldview. Most computer games often have subject matter of interest to boys, or feature styles of interaction known to be comfortable for boys. We all are stuck in the stereotypical views that prompt us to believe that males play with machines that show their aggressiveness and dominance...while females play with dolls that induce nurturance.
But as we can see, there is fundamental gender-inequity in computer gaming today as playing computer games is still considered a masculine activity and it has been well established that game play is more popular among males than females
Being a girl gamer in a mostly guy’s world of video games has given me a few unique experiences. One negative aspect of being a girl gamer that I’ve found is that some guys won’t give you any respect. Instead of acknowledging your skills, they act like big babies when you beat them and then don’t want to play anymore. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that I’m some "super goddess of a player".... I’m totally not and I can respect those who can beat me and will always beat me.
But I wish girl gamers weren’t so rare. I don’t think the problem is lack of girly games per-se.. but I think it is the stereotype that video games are a guy’s world. Until more guys (and the society) become accepting of girl gamers, there will always be a lack of girls willing to give it a try. I wish more girls would work up the guts to pick up a controller, and just jump in like one of the guys. Of course playing against seven other guys who will gun you down sooner than look at you, can be quite intimidating....However, I hope that eventually we will not remain to be "the minorities", but rather very diverse and widespread....!!!!
After all tht..I am just left here to say... "Keep on gaming sisters"! :-D

Cheers

/Sh

Ps: kindly add on ur comments or opinions to help me elaborate or find more social issues tht may be associated with girl gamers??!!! thxxxxxx

Friday, May 05, 2006

Hi Sheba
Good to see your blog. am looking forward to following your thinking trail throughout this blog. I find this medium very helpful in organsing my thoughts especially when I am grappling with new ideas . so have fun
Mary

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

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