Gamer girls in hiding

There are more of us than you think. Video game-playing girls, I mean. A recent study even estimated that girl players outnumber men in the 25-34 year age group.
   
Where are all of these girls? The truth is they are probably in hiding.
   
While there is no rulebook that tells everyone in society what to do, there are the cultural norms we all conform to. (Yes, I know you’re different.) These norms tell women that they must look nice in public, have acceptable hobbies (like shopping) and that they must not know anything about cars, hunting or video games.
   
These norms tell me that I can’t jump in on a conversation some guys in my class are having about a new X-Box game. And they tell me that I should never, ever, whip out my new blue Nintendo DSi while I’m waiting for lecture to start.
   
Why? To tell you the truth, I don’t know. I don’t know what is so unacceptable about girls liking and playing video games. In fact, if you ask any guy (I asked my boyfriend), they will probably tell you that they think it’s cool for a girl to play video games.
   
So why are we all hiding in our closets with our PS2s on low volume so the neighbors can’t hear our frustration as we try and kill the boss? We’re self-conscious. We’re taught that the nerdy girls will never get a date, will always get picked on and will forever live the life of a social reject. Remember Drew Barrymore in “Never Been Kissed”? I think we’re worried that once we’re labeled as a nerd or gamer, our social potential will be limited forever. And that’s a daunting prospect in college.
   
I am not ashamed to say that I grew up playing Super Mario Brothers on my Super Nintendo and Soulcalibur on my Dreamcast. I just don’t tell anyone. I love chocobos (kweh!) and moogles. I don’t tell anyone that either. I only talk to two people (including the aforementioned boyfriend) about the video games I play and that is because I don’t know anyone else who plays them.
   
Maybe this article will encourage all of the closet video gamers to come out and identify themselves. We could start a club at University of Northern Iowa where we could safely discuss our tactics and methods in a secure environment. And one day, when we feel confident enough, we will all go out in public.
   
Yes, we are nerds. No, we are not ashamed. The development of social norms has fallen behind the development of technology: the world just isn’t ready for us en masse in public.
   
There are Web sites dedicated to girl gamers. GameGirl.blogfaction.com’s message is, “GameGirl.com hopes to break the stereotype of not just female gamers but all gamers.” So, there is hope for us. And really, once I think about it, the only thing stopping me from going public is me.
 

5 comments

Rachel

Mon Aug 17 2009 02:24

I'm a total nerd and embrace it fully. Video games are just one of my vices. While I'm not that well 'versed' and don't play very many games, I am sometimes attached to that X-Box for hours at a time. Preferably playing GoW2 or L4D.

Erin

Sun Aug 2 2009 12:38

Sorry, I haven't played Left 4 Dead. But if it's like Resident Evil (and I think it's pretty close) then I understand your frustration! I also agree with Dan: we're at a crossroads in gaming history. Gaming IS becoming more popular. However, there is still a lot of division in what games people play, i.e. sports games (Madden), RPGs (Final Fantasy), shooter (Call of Duty), or strategy (Civilization). Yes, someone could be a "gamer" under one person's standards but shunned by another. It's evolving into a sub-culture of it's own (whereas before it was more like an underground society, in my opinion) where the rules are changing, as are the criteria. I never said girls should hide, I just stated that it's not uncommon. Already we can see the impact gaming and other nerdy pastimes are having on fashion, technology, and the societal hierarchy. I'm interested in seeing the mutation, if you will, of gaming in the near future.

Your name

Tue Jul 21 2009 14:06

Speaking as a newly recruited girl gamer, you are treated differently if you play. All the heckeling and trash talk is foreign- but I'm catching on pretty quick. Things that I would never have let my guy friends say to me a year ago are now readily accepted as long as the controllers are in hand. And I agree with Dan, that the gamers are the new jocks- society is changing, and I don't see why I / any other female should miss out on the fun. BTW if you have beaten left 4 dead, will you please let me know? I've about had it with these %@$# boomers.

Lindsey

Fri Jun 12 2009 16:51

Actually, I think you are way off the mark here. Girls should not hide their gaming abilities! I have found that when I play Madden football on the nintendo with my dorm room opened, more guys stop to than they would if I was ready to go out to the bar. Of course if your boyfriend is a gamer you should let him win sometimes!

Dan

Thu Jun 11 2009 18:00

The definition of "gamer" is changing because of the growth of the video game industry. For the first time America is very close to when a being a "gamer" is the cool thing to do. I just hope that we can bring girls along with. There are so many great games that the girls who aren't already playing should be forced to come out and start playing. For those gals who already know just how great video games are: Play On. It is cool to game. p.s. Guys think its awesome when chicks game. My girlfriend games with me and she's the coolest chick I know.

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