GamerGate exposes sexism in gaming world
via Wikipedia
November 6, 2014
What is now being called GamerGate began late last summer as a crusade against corruption in video game journalism — a reaction to the accusations that game developer Zoe Quinn had cheated on her boyfriend with a journalist in order to gain a positive review for her game “DepressionQuest.” That is what those using the hashtag have argued, anyway. Yet, as anyone with Internet connection and a semblance of objectivity can tell you, this is a complete lie.
GamerGate is a campaign of terror against women and progressive gamers by a collection of misogynists. These gamers say the current male-dominated version of gaming is best, and that gaming has always been this way. Any suggestions of change and progress are seen as unnatural and dangerous.
The gamers involved leaked personal information online and harassed female gamers on social media. Despite these acts of cyber-terrorism, the gamers presented themselves as freedom fighters by accusing journalists of misusing their ethics.
There are many angles to take on this nightmare, from the continued acceptance of violence toward women in gaming culture to corporations allowing a demographic to become convinced of its significance. But amid the darkness, three women stand as beacons of bravery and hope.
Quinn, caught in the center of this maelstrom, has been unflinching. Despite threats of all kinds, harassment and emotional distress, she has continued to fight, going undercover on 4chan servers to show how GamerGate has been a long-coordinated attack on her and her colleagues. She also correctly pointed out the journalist accused of corruption has never written about her work.
Before GamerGate, Anita Sarkeesian became a target for her YouTube series “Tropes vs Women,” which questions the portrayal of women in video games. She has worked with the FBI to find the ringleaders of the group making threats and continues to engage in public appearances despite death threats.
Despite the negative actions and implications of GamerGate, there are women taking a stand, ensuring the industry will continue to push forward while challenging the patriarchal culture that fuels the hate. In the words of Quinn, “If video games have taught me anything, it’s that if you encounter enemies then you’re going the right way.”
A version of this article appeared in the Fall 2014 Arts Issue. Email Carter Glace at [email protected].
DD • Nov 9, 2014 at 7:47 pm
Thank you for the informative article. As a female gamer I’ve certainly experienced sexism in the MMO community. There are MMO forums where this topic is being discussed and some of the men are showing their true colors. I invite you to visit the ‘conversation’ below for a good example of misogynist-writings by male gamers. The last few pages are rather eye-opening. http://lotrocommunity.com/forum/topic/3221-gamergate/
Mike • Nov 8, 2014 at 12:19 pm
“Muh misogynists” or not. You’re way off on your research. That isn’t even the right chan.
JC Denton • Nov 7, 2014 at 1:23 pm
“GamerGate is a campaign of terror against women and progressive gamers by a collection of misogynists. These gamers say the current male-dominated version of gaming is best, and that gaming has always been this way. Any suggestions of change and progress are seen as unnatural and dangerous.”
Do you have even a single fact to back that up?
Mr.Moore • Nov 7, 2014 at 1:01 pm
This article is laughable at best. For one, what proof have you, or anyone else for that matter, provided that any threats sent to these 3 women were linked to GG? WHERE’S THE PROOF?! Anita has not worked with the FBI, she reported the threats to them, they told her not to say anything about it, she uses these threats for self-promotion. ZQ going under cover? Please. GG forums have nothing to hide.
Show me just the slightest crumb of proof that corroborates anything you asserted here…
Jaycob • Nov 7, 2014 at 12:54 pm
Yeah… I’m sorry but this has completely missed the mark with Gamergate to be honest. These are attacks that have no link to the #GG Consumer Revolt, and I would encourage the author to do a little more research on the subject.
Zoe Quinn is no longer important and Anita Sarkeesian has always been irrelevant to this campaign, as it is meant to bring an end to the collusion behind the scenes as revealed by a Breitbart article revealing a mailing list that tied many MANY writers on Kotaku,…
Fair and balanced • Nov 6, 2014 at 8:56 pm
Fair and balanced like Fox Newz.
Write a few more of these and your career will really take of.
And maybe that “spiritual” chick will go out with you!
mike hawk • Nov 6, 2014 at 7:13 pm
If Anita was already subject to harassment before gamergate why would you claim that her current harassment is a result of gamergate? You assert that it is true because one side claims it is so. How very “objective” of you.
Bill • Nov 6, 2014 at 3:19 pm
‘going undercover on 4chan servers’
Yet, as anyone with Internet connection and a semblance of objectivity can tell you, this is a complete lie.
Quinn went on the IRC which is openly available. The IRC published most of its logs in response to her posting a selection of snippets.
The Escapist news story on this is one of the first results.
Greg • Nov 6, 2014 at 2:42 pm
Does anyone else think it’s bizarre that the media thinks it can tell an entire group of people what it believes, and what it stands for? GamerGate is very amorphous, and there are some anti-feminists involved, but GamerGaters donated tens of thousands of dollars to various causes, including an indiegogo campaign that aims to promote women in game production (it’s raised about $70k). GGers also ran/run the ‘anti-harassment patrol’ on twitter, outed the ‘Shadow of Mordor’ issue with only…
Alex • Nov 6, 2014 at 12:20 pm
What this article and many other writers don’t get is that the sexism in gamergate is not coming from gamers. Trolls have hijacked the movement, possibly to discredit the movement and gamers. Any decent reporter should do their research before condemning an entire group of people. Also, Anita Sarkeesian does nothing to help women in games. She makes up stories about how gamers are “misogynists” and then hides behind blind reports like this when people criticise her.
Wiibii • Nov 7, 2014 at 1:04 am
Aww, so much bullshit. We have the comprehensive chat and board logs in which Gamergate was spawned, and which it grew into its maturity. The word rape is used over 6 times as many times as the word ethics (ethics is said a paltry 87 times btw, most of those by a chat-bot which repeats Zoe’s tweets, which says volumes about how legitimate this talking point is). Zoe’s name is used 47 times as many times. The word suicide is used over twice as often. Gamergate began as a bunch of angry…