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

[Adam Parker]

Hi Anthony,

This year, I had one of my female project managers talking about her
progress in the degree at a local girls' school. This was very positive, and
we'll be doing more of it.

I agree, practical demonstration of competence reshapes social views.
However, I prefer that we minimise the discussion of ideological debate -
I'd rather it was presented as a viable option and nothing more. Referring
ab initio to defeating the sausage-fest simply invokes the obsolete culture
we are looking to leave behind, and minoritises female endeavour by casting
it as existing solely to defeat a dominant masculine cultural role.

Cheers,
Adam

On Wed, Sep 21, 2011 at 8:16 AM, Anthony Hart-Jones <tony at dragonstalon.co.uk

> wrote:



> **

> 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

>

> _______________________________________________

> game_edu mailing list

> game_edu at igda.org

> http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_edu

>

>



-- 
Adam Parker
Senior Lecturer, Games Design
Qantm College

Qantm College Melbourne Campus
235 Normanby Rd
South Melbourne VIC 3205 Australia

+61 (0) 3 8632 3400   | Phone
+61 (0) 3 8632 3401   | Fax

www.sae.edu  | Web
www.qantm.com.au  | Web
www.saeshortcourses.com  | Web

SAE National Provider Code: 0273. SAE CRICOS Provider Codes: NSW 00312F. SAE
Institute Pty Ltd, ABN: 21 093 057 973

This email (including all attachments) is confidential and may be subject to
legal privilege and/or copyright. The information contained within this
email (including all attachments) should only be viewed if you are the
intended recipient. If you have received this email in error, please notify
the sender immediately and delete this email from your system along with any
copies that have been made. Any unauthorised use, which includes saving,
printing, copying, disseminating or forwarding is prohibited and may result
in breach of confidentiality, privilege or copyright. If you wish to
unsubscribe or choose not to receive further commercial electronic messages
from SAE Institute or any grouped/associated entities please send an email
this address with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.

Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://seven.pairlist.net/pipermail/game_edu/attachments/20110922/17ddca78/attachment.htm>