Sunday eSports: Girls in the Pro-Gaming Scene

[Collect0r]

Too true my friend, too true. It always gets blamed on the girls too, AM I RIGHT?!

Most of the time yeah. Having said that the biggest blow out I ever had in wow was due to a greedy self righteous pot head. Thought his **** don't stink and made everyone in the guild (including the leaders) know it. Which was unfortunate because he was a really talented player.

I used to attend a lan party that "Ravenkitty" of a former CS 1.6 girl gaming clan "Absolute Dominatrix" (Small world story she was actually a friend of my sisters in highschool) but holy **** that girl had some terrifying rage... When you fragged her to the point she thought you were bs she would let you have it...

But personally i think it's great that more women (come on guys grow up, they are women not girls) are playing video games... online gaming for geeks are like the bars for 'cool people' lets get some more women up in here and thin out the sausage fest ratio. Who knows there might be a partner geek out there for all of us.

[Takiah]

Here here!

My partner and I have an amazing relationship and a large part of that is due to us understanding and respecting each others gaming commitments. I know so many couples that are consistently arguing because one side does not understand/respect the others gaming. That alone adds additional stresses and complications to their relationships.

Though don't think it's a walk in the park folks - having both sides being gamers presents challenges of its own

[CelticAngel82]

i blame my partner for getting me into gaming.

[Minkelz]

it's good to see more women getting into "hardcore" gaming. stats keep showing that a large % of women do play games, but they don't tend to be games like SC2, and WoW. a more diverse playing base is always good.

I still don't understand why more girls don't like gaming. is it part of the evolutionary differences between men and women, or is it society?

Granted I haven't played in 12 months, but I found a huge amount of girls played WoW. A lot of guilds I were in had 3-5 girls (in a guild of ~30), and I'd guess they'd be less represented in the raiding guilds.

[Fireslide]

Chemical difference more so than societal pressure I suspect.

Higher levels of testosterone make females more aggressive/competitive.

I'm unsure as to whether women with high levels of testosterone seek out competitive activities, or competitive activities increase the production of testosterone, or both.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/scien ... 76769.html

[Mekon]

I'm unsure as to whether women with high levels of testosterone seek out competitive activities, or competitive activities increase the production of testosterone, or both.

Both.

It is self-reinforcing. High baseline levels will steer you towards competition... and then participating in those activities will boost your testosterone levels, as I understand it.

[CelticAngel82]

I'm unsure as to whether women with high levels of testosterone seek out competitive activities, or competitive activities increase the production of testosterone, or both.

Both.

It is self-reinforcing. High baseline levels will steer you towards competition... and then participating in those activities will boost your testosterone levels, as I understand it.

I just like killing, maiming and blowing **** up.. even my own team mates.

[Agent_Dark]

I'm unsure as to whether women with high levels of testosterone seek out competitive activities, or competitive activities increase the production of testosterone, or both.

Both.

It is self-reinforcing. High baseline levels will steer you towards competition... and then participating in those activities will boost your testosterone levels, as I understand it.

I just like killing, maiming and blowing **** up.. even my own team mates.

KILL ALL THE THINGS

[Zombywolf]

Also, games don't need specifically target either gender - it all comes down to personal preferences. I don't really find my taste in games (WoW/SWTOR/LoL) to be because of my gender - it's just my preferred play style.

except for like, dead or alive volleyball games.
i'd say those are pretty specific.

[chhopsky]

It's good to see this stuff being brought up more. I closed my eyes and winced, mouthing to myself "dontreadthecommentsdontreadthecomments" in preparation for the horror that is usually comment threads around women in games but this is a pleasant surprise.

I read a study a while back that said that 85% of girls age 12 had plans/dreams/goals that included leadership or management. By the age of 17, that number has dropped to 15%. I think there's probably a lot of parallels between this and many male-dominated areas, including rough sports, building things and games.

Yes, women at a high general level do tend to have a different interest bias in things, but our presentation of what women 'should' be also affects that - it's a feedback loop. IMO all we can do is make an environment that is accepting of all people who are not assholes, and then people will be truly free to make their own choices rather than being shoehorned down the path they think is acceptable.