[game_edu] Implications of students going into a male-dominated industry?

[Anthony Hart-Jones]

On 20/09/11 22:49, Adam Moore wrote:

>

> I'd say the imbalance is endemic to society and the game industry 

> isn't the only industry affected. It's not caused by genetics -- it's 

> all caused by social constructs.

>

> Here's an even tougher question -- what can we and our students do to 

> change this imbalance?

>

   This may come across as flippant or sarcastic, but how about asking 
female developers and students to talk about their work.  Not TV-spots, 
not school visits, but simply talking about their jobs.  Get the to talk 
to their daughters, their sisters, their nieces and second-cousins.  
Even half of the men can do it; you talk about how much fun your job is, 
then when the girl in question brings gender into it, you say 
'/actually, no; I know quite a few women who are in / are studying 
games-development/' and challenge those stereotypes by related personal 
experience.
   The fact is that even we developers and educators here who are 
discussing this right now will probably talk about games and 
games-development to male family and friends, but gloss over it for 
female.  We assume they would not be interested and so we don't 'bore 
them' with details of our world.  The boys and men are more likely to 
initiate a conversation about these topics, but that doesn't mean girls 
and women are not just as interested if you catch their interest.

   The fact of the matter is that girls will respond better to a woman 
relating her experience, especially one they can admire and meet in the 
flesh, but any one of us can say '/no, games development is not the 
sausage-fest it once was/' and maybe help turn the tide of 
public-opinion, which I have always held is the true issue.  (my 
anthropologist friend agrees on this too; she swears it is all cultural)


> How can we solve these problems with game design?

>

   Having read a long paper on this topic moments ago (thank you, Nick 
Lalone), I would say that we need to design for human beings 
irrespective of gender and let the boys and girls realise they like the 
same kinds of games.  Other than that, I am at a loss right now.

   This has been an amazing conversation and quite eye-opening.  I think 
it'll take a good night's sleep to digest it all and maybe I will be 
filled with ideas in the morning.

  - Anthony
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