my blog on the phrase girl gamer

[PerfectDark PMS]

i wrote a blog for Frag dolls that i thought was important to let people see what i thought the phrase girl gamer was to me.

here is a link tell me what you think, feedback is always good.

http://www.fragdolls.com/us/blog.php?doll=psyche

[edx]

This is a very touchy subject that encompasses more than just gender issues. I think that the majority of guys who argue that point Perfect aren't exactly sure what the actual point is. The global argument is why differintiate yourself from other gamers?

"Girl" gamer is the hot topic for right now but there's many other gamer groups who try to separate themselves from the gaming population. Blizzard was getting sued by a Gay Friendly Guild after said guild was punished for improper recruiting techniques (advertising they were gay-friendly goes against Blizzard Terms of Service). Being proud of who you are and what you believe in is one of the most important steps in life. But seperating yourselves when striving for equality defeats the purpose doesnt it? Like I said it goes towards many different groups.

[PerfectDark PMS]

This is a very touchy subject that encompasses more than just gender issues. I think that the majority of guys who argue that point Perfect aren't exactly sure what the actual point is. The global argument is why differintiate yourself from other gamers?

"Girl" gamer is the hot topic for right now but there's many other gamer groups who try to separate themselves from the gaming population. Blizzard was getting sued by a Gay Friendly Guild after said guild was punished for improper recruiting techniques (advertising they were gay-friendly goes against Blizzard Terms of Service). Being proud of who you are and what you believe in is one of the most important steps in life. But seperating yourselves when striving for equality defeats the purpose doesnt it? Like I said it goes towards many different groups.

defeats the purpose? not at all. who said anything about seperating yourself? its not about Girl gamers seperating themselves from the dominant group of male gamers. its about acknowledgement and having people realize that we are here and that we want to even out the odds. what we are striving for is equality and for the minority to become apart of the majority.

did you read the entire blog? i go through it step by step

in order for a minority to gain the same rights or equality as the majority they must make themselves visible and present. once the odds are even, hopefully we wont need to refer to ourselves as girl gamers. just gamers since there will already be so many others like us

ohh the phrase "girl" gamer is not a hot topic. more like a misconception

what is considered a hot topic would be the use of the N word or something along the lines of that.

[Kasumi Chan PMS]

I just go by gamer, but there are two sides of this debate. One says by seperating yourself you are making it less equal (which i agree with). The other side says that we are in a minority therefore we need to be recognized and stand out (Which I agree with too, but in the sense that we could use a few extra oppurtunities in order to get up to par with the male gamers). It's kinda like affirmative action IMO.

But yeah, most of the hate on PMS in general is that we are trying to seperate ourself from males, when really PMS is just a supportive community for us girls. HAHA, good example, I placed 9th at a major DOA4 tournament 2 weeks ago. I already have people up my butt saying "the brackets were shady". If you guys think it's bad in your genres of games, you should see the topics that have been started against PMS since I joined at doacentral. People have gone nuts, fighting game communities ARE NOT female friendly. Thank god I have a somewhat thick skin and 500+ on my side.:)

Oh, sorry, BTW, it was beautifully written and very clear.:) However, it only scratched the surface of what the real issue is and what people really have a problem with.

[X QuikSilv3r X]

I think Psyche presents a great argument defending the term "girl gamer" and why it's being used to gain equality rather then seperate themselves.

I don't think people hate PMS because they "seperate themselves" but rather because like Psyche says "Girl that plays games + that’s not normal = weirdo". I've been in random open rooms with PMS girls and have seen first hand what they have to go through all the name calling and hate towards them simply because they're girls and no other reason. Things like that bother me ALOT and i for one agree with what Pschye has said in her blog i thnk she covers alot of major points, maybe not all of them like Kasumi Chan said but she does go over some of the major ones.

[edx]

I think you missed my point let me try to rephrase and explain. I meant Hot Topic as in there have been other groups of gamers who have come under fire in the past

First and foremost don't think for a second that I don't love, respect the clan, community and its purpose. My question was an honest one because I've heard the argument a hundred times over and never heard and actual answer.

From your reply it sounds like in the long run the goal is to be considered "gamers" so myy question is why start off with something that distinguishes you apart from that? I've heard girls form this community who have replied to those questions in game with "I'm not a girl gamer, I'm a gamer just like you and I'm going to kick your ***".

I don't know I guess personally being a minority myself in many different "catagories" I have always found equality by removing anything that could be used to single me out.

[PerfectDark PMS]

I think you missed my point let me try to rephrase and explain. I meant Hot Topic as in there have been other groups of gamers who have come under fire in the past

First and foremost don't think for a second that I don't love, respect the clan, community and its purpose. My question was an honest one because I've heard the argument a hundred times over and never heard and actual answer.

From your reply it sounds like in the long run the goal is to be considered "gamers" so myy question is why start off with something that distinguishes you apart from that? I've heard girls form this community who have replied to those questions in game with "I'm not a girl gamer, I'm a gamer just like you and I'm going to kick your ***".

I don't know I guess personally being a minority myself in many different "catagories" I have always found equality by removing anything that could be

used to single me out.

so it sound like your saying dont be who your are just so you can fit in.

While considering ones self a "gamer" rather than a female gamer is well and dandy. But that does not mean that it will stop the stereo types and redicule that several girls have gotten. Making other aware of our presence and educating them about us is the best thing that we can do. if we dont stand out then how do you expect the majority to treat us as if we belong and showing others like us that gaming is not out of the norm.

Also i myself have whats is known as the Double Whammy. I am a Female and hispanic. this reinforces the term minority. The fact that i am going to college and getting a degree is something is is out of the norm where i am from. i let it be known where i come from and i dont just consider myself a woman but a Dominican woman who is striving for the same thing as every other american, a better future. In order for me to fit in i educate and find common ground with others so that we can be equals.

an example of forcing equality is Affirmative action. this is something that institutions use to "even out the odds". this is something that pertains to my arugument. :D

But essentially everyone has a POV :)

[Kasumi Chan PMS]

Well I just call myself a gamer, but I talk over xbl and will let people know I'm a female, but I don't shout it from the rooftops. Of course people are gonna hate on a girl if she goes into a room saying she's a "girl gamer" that translates to "LOOK AT ME!" from an objective point of view.

IMO, it's demeaning to call yourself a girl gamer. First of all, we are all strong and individual, WOMEN! And we are not just gamers, most of us are Pro-Gamers. The word girl gamer refers to a word men and anyone else use to put us in a seperate category. Oh, but she's a "girl gamer"! That's what people say to make you feel better about not being as good as some top male player. That's why I like having PMS in my name, because although some *** holes may skew it, to me it means Women in Gaming.:)

But yeah, this is all my opinion.

Oh yeah, and most controversial articles about this now refer to us as "female gamers". That's the PC term.

[edx]

so it sound like your saying dont be who your are just so you can fit in.

That's not what I'm saying at all. My point is it doesnt matter what other people think about you it's what you believe in and who you know yourself to be. Ultimatly not everyone will agree with your principles but being able to discuss and educate those who are willing to learn is what's important.

To me the ideal way to stopping a stereo type would be to fight from under. Being a minority myself it's always nice wrecking house against or with people who are being racist or discriminate, only to have them find out after I'm that guy they were making fun of.

Different strokes I guess. btw Perfect good to see you doing well with the FDs;) My intenttion is not to argue it but to cover more of the angles in which it's viewed from.

[PerfectDark PMS]

i think that some of you might think i shout from the SKYS IM A GIRL GAMER HERE ME ROAR!!!!

its more casual than that.

i go into a room greet my fellow gamers and i usually get asked " hey, are you a chick?!"
my response is "why yes i am" then i laugh because they are usually surprised. OR i might get into converstaion and talk about Frag Dolls or PMS if they ask wat clans or teams i am on. some guys dont even know that such a large community of woman in online gaming exist.

Remember being apart of this community also makes you immune to the lack of female games online, why? because your around female gamers all the time. About 300 of them or so.

So what is my point in doing so. i do it for the girls who have been drivin of gaming by the ingnorant mass who feel that they didnt belong. who hold onto the neg stereo types and generalize even though they are completely wrong.

p.s no argument here just different POV and more of a disscusion :D

[enyork]

WOW!!!!!