WOMEN IN GAMES or lack thereof

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WOMEN IN GAMESor lack thereof

• An insight into the world of games and how to
  introduce a more gender-neutral game society.

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1. Why are there more men in the industry than
women?

• Both boys and girls are equally adept at playing
  games.
• Children of both sexes consider computer games to
  be boys toys
• Boys are more likely to play games, and continue
  playing them into adulthood.

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2. BoysGamesBoys Games.

• More boys playing games leads to more men in
  game/computer related fields.
• Women represent a minority in the games industry,
  holding less than 10 of positions.
• Few of the women in the industry hold key
  positions.

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3. Is It The Games Themselves?

• Some women find it hard to relate to the violent
  female characters in games.
• Girls get turned off by stereotypical or
  degrading depictions of females.
• Often, girls are a lesser character, or a prize
  for a male character.

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4. Or The Way We Play Them?

• The industry is saturated with racing, fighting
  and sports titles with little point other than
  winning.
• Boys are satisfied with explosive action and
  competition.
• Girls prefer character development, involving
  storylines, and challenging gameplay.

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5. A Woman's Touch

• Increasing numbers of women are becoming
  designers and producers.
• Digital characters and game content are being
  rethought.
• Women in the industry are bringing into focus
  non-traditional career roles.

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6. Gender Balance V Bank Balance

• Games are a 40 billion industry with up to 80
  of the sales revenue generated from a male
  market.
• There is already a proven strong market for
  girl games.
• For console developers to remain competitive,
  they need to broaden their consumer group.

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7. No Boys Allowed?

• Do boys and girls want fundamentally different
  things from game content?
• Is the answer to focus on a girl only market?
• Is there a risk in splitting game content?

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8. Or Access All Areas?

• Do we expand the existing game market to include
  both male and female interests?
• Create stronger female characters in traditional
  boys games.
• Better marketing for existing games to female
  consumers.

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9. Breaking the cycle.

• Informing teachers, parents and careers advisors
  about the games industry.
• Ensuring correct information is passed on to
  children and young adults.
• Increase the number of women working in the games
  industry.

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10. What you can do to help.

• Be aware of ALL the subjects that are relevant to
  the games industry, not just art and computer
  science.
• Use games as examples to make tedious subject
  more interesting.
• Let girls know that the industry is not just for
  men.

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11. References

• Cassell and Jenkins 1994
• Comber, Colley, Hargreaves and Dorn, 1997
• Denise Agosto, 2001
• Gailey, 1996
• Gorriz Medina 2000
• Heyman and Berstein, 1996
• Kafai, 1996 1998
• Kramer and Lehman 1990
• Miller, Chaika and Groppe, 1996
• Sheri Graner Ray and Heather Kelley, 2004
• Subrahmanyam and Greenfield, 1998
• Tracy Deitz, 1998
• Uzoamaka Nzegwu 2000
• Wilder, Mackie and Cooper, 1985
• Winter 2000
• G. Beato, 1997