Gaming's Women Raise Sexism Awareness With #1reasonwhy Movement on Twitter

@CaptStickybeard said:

@Milkman said:

How dare you support these people.

Are you not ALLIES?!

You're still missing the point. No one made recommendations based on the idea they weren't sexist. They made recommendations based on the idea they were better talents than the men you posted. Stop trying to get people on the defensive and turn the tables.

@CaptStickybeard: Wow, you really nailed me. First, what's sexist about that first clip? He doesn't call her a bitch or anything unless I missed something. Second, just because I like a comedian I need to believe in everything they say? (For the record, I think Opie & Anthony are unfunny morons) I didn't realize fandom was a legally contract to agree with everything that ever comes out of their mouth. We're really grasping at straws now, aren't we?

By the way, that Heckler clip is from his TV show and he's playing a character so that doesn't really apply.

@FlarePhoenix: cool, I think we're in agreement. I don't think anyone is trying to jump to anywhere in one step. It's going to take a while, the seeds are getting sown now, and if we're lucky when my kids grow up they'll not have to worry about this shit.

@Judakel: But you said you liked Louis and Patton and Zach. And judging by all of these evil white men's "comedy," I'd surely accuse you of supporting rape culture.

@CaptStickybeard said:

@Judakel: Oh jeeze.

I guess I've been played.

Truly you're God's gift to women.

Keep fighting that good fight.

No one was trying to play you. The point I was making was genuine, I just knew you'd simply miss it. You're more concerned with turning the tables of people than anything else. It is the same reason every idiot asks for suggestions during these arguments.

I didn't recommend Louis CK. No need to include him in a reply to me.

Sexism is real, folks, whether blatant and conscious or just mildly underlying--just like racism--most people aren't prejudiced at all, but almost everyone's a little bit racist. There's an important distinction to be made there, and it extends into sexism as well.

Recognizing and acknowledging sexism isn't participating in and perpetuating the "feminization of the man and western culture at large" either, it's just striving for some semblance of equality. And I'm not at all claiming women don't contribute to distinction and the lack of equality--quite the contrary--there are some real bad apples (a lot of them) that oversexualize, repeatedly point out gender roles and differences, and worst of all, demand chivalry. A feminist that demands to be treated like a man, and at the same time demands her date to pay for her meal, is a complete hypocrite, and only hurting the cause.

@Judakel said:

Don't put "spreads awareness" in quotation marks. That's half the fight. People should be shamed. They should be "guilt tripped". People don't change without feeling bad about their present course. He isn't apologizing for being a man. What part of being a man is negated by the content of his tweet? I think how you're interpreting his article - and his tweet - says a lot more about your views on this issue than you'd like to admit.

You're suggesting the common man should be ashamed for the actions of other men, i have nothing to feel guilty for and yet you tell me i should feel guilty, effectively telling me i am in the wrong simply for being the same gender as someone else. They should not be guilt tripped, thats manipulation, they should be talked to, man to woman, adult to adult.

I'm not hiding anything, i think feminism is idiotic as it almost always ends in women having superiority over men. Women's Rights is different though, but the only way i can take part in that is to treat women the same way i treat men, for better or worse. So if they stand up for themselves instead of relying on the support of strangers on the internet then i'll be happy for them, but i hold no guilt for the actions of others. If men in the industry treat women poorly that is their own fault and you should talk to them, which hey that's what Patrick should be doing instead of parroting tweets and telling us we should feel bad for being stupid men who just dont understand.

@Judakel: It's relevant for you.

You're just a heckler.

@Milkman said:

By the way, that Heckler clip is from his TV show and he's playing a character so that doesn't really apply.

It does apply, actually. In an interview for a comedy documentary, Louis explains he worked out that heckler rant, but never had a chance to use it in his act. The actual heckler/conversation afterwards is based on a real experience he had.

@Arx724 said:

@Dark_Lord_Spam said:

There's the disconnect, though. I don't see this as whining at all. It's a necessary part of the process required to rectify the issue of sexism, in this case specifically concerning the disadvantages in professional courtesy that women have if they choose to work in today's gaming industry. These are legitimate offenses, and while ultimately (as Patrick noted in his salient message) I can't comprehend beyond the tiniest sliver what it's like to have my internal strength undermined on a day-to-day basis, I can certainly sympathize. There's something to be said for standing up to aggressors, sure, but then that's precisely what's happening here. It just so happens that it's also demonstrating how much easier it is to voice your opposition when you have the support of your peers - on both sides of the argument, natch.

I can understand you from the viewpoint of coming here for the purposes of relaxation and not having to deal with "big ideas" like this when you visit the site, but it should be clear by now that Patrick writes about things he views as important discussions to be had. Trying to undermine the argument being made by these women because it makes you uncomfortable when you didn't want to be rings hollow to me. I don't believe it's what you or nearly any of the other people who have voiced their concern here are really trying to do, but it's happening. If you're too tired to deal with this today, you can go rest. If you've been dealing with other, more pressing stress, then for your own fucking mental health please take a break from reading comments on the internet. Maybe go play Hitman. But don't bury this argument. Don't convince the victims of discrimination and their employers that you don't give enough of a shit to demand change where it's needed.

I have no real respect for adults who don't stand up for themselves in our Western society that, ultimately, has so much to offer for anyone living in it. If those same adults go complain to someone uninvolved (or better yet, the entire world) that someone else is treating them poorly, it's whining. In the end, if anything, this shitstorm will make me dismiss claims about unequal treatments more easily in the future.

If standing up for yourself was all it took, don't you think we'd be done with this issue by now? You have to change minds, and for that you need others to stand with you.

@PillClinton: I could give you a hug for that post. A virtual, yet very warm, hug.

@CaptStickybeard: Cool. Louis CK isn't my feminist role model. He's a comedian I like. Again, your point?

@CaptStickybeard said:

@Judakel: It's relevant for you.

You're just a heckler.

@Milkman said:

By the way, that Heckler clip is from his TV show and he's playing a character so that doesn't really apply.

It does apply, actually. In an interview for a comedy documentary, Louis explains he worked out that heckler rant, but never had a chance to use it in his act. The actual heckler/conversation afterwards is based on a real experience he had.

So you're saying the points I am advocating run counter to what you'd rather be doing?

@CaptStickybeard:

Oh.

This was the exact tweet that pissed me off pretty bad. Sometimes reactions that are not based on sex (thinking leigh can be all of the above things she mentioned) get pinned as sexism.

@FlarePhoenix said:

@Gordo789 said:

@FlarePhoenix said:

@Gordo789 said:

@mrfluke said:

@FlarePhoenix: agreed, sure this has turned into a wildfire, but honestly, those women that are complaining about this issues, will just voicing it on twitter change anything? will the bullies that are bothering them look at the social network and be like "Oh im sorry"

they really do have to take action if they want change, and i totally agree that people SHOULDNT have to toughen up or deal with it, because like you, i was bullied a lot back in the day, not even for being a gamer or nerd, it was rather something more racial (which racism is a much more serious issue), i was called names like terrorist and such, it was during the time when 9/11 was prominent issue,

so imo those ideals is part of a perfect world that doesnt exist, and if these women are so bothered by their workplaces then i think they need to toughen up, and take action, because it could be a lot fucking worse to deal with

maybe by raising awareness some men might try and pitch in with a helping hand? Maybe? It's not the job of the oppressed to rise up and do everything on their own. When you were bullied, did you ever complain about it? Did the people you complained to just say, "MrFluke stop being such a bitch!" If they did, wouldn't it have been easier if they (or anybody) lent a helping hand instead? Maybe when women complain about harassment in the industry they're asking for help. Is that such a terrible thing?

I have to wonder: is there enough people who aren't aware of this problem to make raising awareness of it a viable strategy. Sure, you might get a few people who go "oh shit! I have been treating women terribly", but the mass amount of people either are very much aware of the issue, or are so blind to it no amount of pointing it out is going to get through to them.

I have no problem with what has happened here, and I do not think it is a terrible thing. I'm just saying more needs to be done. Both sides are going to need to do something to get this issue resolved, but it is going to have to be the victims that make the first step. Sitting around waiting for things to get better isn't going to solve anything.

That's a valid concern, FlarePhoenix, and I agree more needs to get done, but this type of stuff is totally a start. There is no easy solution to this problem, because if there were it would've got solved by now. However, it's an all too common response to the kind of criticism that #1reasonwhy presents to just say, "well tweeting about it isn't going to solve anything." The reality is that it is working just by keeping the criticism in the forefront. The victims HAVE BEEN TRYING to make the first step for a long time, but idiots keep shouting them down.

It seems hopeless, but more and more people are getting riled up and saying, "wait a minute, this IS BULLSHIT." More and more people are going to demand better of the community that they're a part of, and I don't see how anyone can argue that that's a bad thing. Yet here they are.

My advice, for people who want to do something, anything really, no matter how insignificant it seems, is to send an email to the bombcast and let them know that this type of behavior shouldn't be tolerated in the community. This place is a goddamned fucking cesspool of ignorant narrow-minded man-children. It's pretty shameful. We're like a hop, skip and a jump away from /b/ on goddamned 4chan.

I completely agree this is a good start, but that's what this has to be: a start. This, by itself, is going to lead to nothing. It needs to be:

Step 1: Raise Awareness

Step 2: Do Something

not

Step 1: Raise Awareness

Step 2: I don't know... lunch maybe?

Step 3: Go to Step 1

and that is what I mean by the victims needing to do something. Nothing is going to change if people keep sitting on their hands hoping things will change.

Also, and I really hate to say this (please don't take it the wrong way, expectations might need to be lowered. The end goal is that women are accepted by everyone as gamers, and while I have nothing wrong with that goal, it's not going to happen straight away. I believe one of the biggest reasons this is still going on is because people keep trying to jump from where we are now to no sexism whatsoever. It would be nice if that could work, but I believe it needs to happen in stages. Having everyone be accepted by everyone may not be possible, but there are things we can certainly do: if someone is being a dick online (about anything) refuse to game with them anymore. If everyone turned around and said "Look, you are been a dick. I am not going to play with you anymore" they would soon learn their lesson (and if they didn't, who cares? They can be racist and sexist to themselves all they like).

It's not a perfect solution by any means, but I believe it is a good first step.

i wish you bros luck, even if the genesis of my comment fueled your arguments (and arguments against me) if you guys help fuel the fire for this movement and a positive outcome happens at the end of this warzone then more power to you. sincerely, no bullshit.

but this "o send an email to the bombcast and let them know that this type of behavior shouldn't be tolerated in the community This place is a goddamned fucking cesspool of ignorant narrow-minded man-children" i dont agree with,

cause at the end of the day these articles just bring out the worst in people, by and large, this community IS one of the best around. and silencing a group of opinions so the other group of opinions win and feel validated, the fuck does that solve at the end of the day?

i think it ultimately solves nothing and just proves your just as big of a " ignorant narrow-minded man-child" as the rest as you are so narrow minded and so self-rightous into your own opinion that everyone is assholes to you

i like @FlarePhoenix way though of essentially just turning your back on the assholes. as that level of psychology does work. it can also backfire and rile them up way further, but majority of the time it does work.

but i think Patrick is the winner though as on twitter he has said hes working on a story on the 1reasontobe movement which has females tweeting out positive experiences on the game industry.

i still stand behind my original stance of these women need to take a stand in their workplace and take action, because ultimately it could be a lot fucking worse to deal with. cause most places outside of game industry dont have to deal with this, so this is not A WORLDWIDE ISSUE like racism

but showcasing both sides of the argument showcasing the good and the bad, is an excellent way to inform people of this whole thing, its kinda "the good ending" to what you guys want

@sikapwach said:

@CaptStickybeard:

Oh.

This was the exact tweet that pissed me off pretty bad. Sometimes reactions that are not based on sex (thinking leigh can be all of the above things she mentioned) get pinned as sexism.

Her argument is invalid because everyone loves drunken Karen Snider.

I honestly don't know how to approach this type of discussion and I'm being dead honest, especially since my experience in the career field is the military. I really don't know how to react when a civilian complains to me that they are being treat badly or feel like they are being picked on at the work place. Because frankly, it's part of my job to be treat like shit on a daily basis. So I really don't know whether to tell them to suck it up or have empathy.

But I mean, there is obviously sexism in every damn area, and people should do a little more to understand where these females are coming from .

@baconbits33 said:

I honestly don't know how to approach this type of discussion and I'm being dead honest, especially since my experience in the career field is the military. I really don't know how to react when a civilian complains to me that they are being treat badly or feel like they are being picked on at the work place. Because frankly, it's part of my job to be treat like shit on a daily basis. So I really don't know whether to tell them to suck it up or have empathy.

But I mean, there is obviously sexism in every damn area, and people should do a little more to understand where these females are coming from .

Correct course of action is to post that image of military dudes in a jeep in the desert with the caption "oh I'm so sorry your Thanksgiving didn't go as well as you hoped".

Really, if you've got the nuclear option in a conversation like that, you should drop it as often and early as possible. "Oh man you have a migraine? I GOT IN A KNIFE FIGHT YESTERDAY AND LOST A KIDNEY"

Wrap it up everyone, we can go home: giant bomb forums user aceofspudz says these are just the result of overblown misunderstandings.

Sexism is over and we're just wasting our time trying to see it everywhere.

I don't understand why if I don't agree with someone I'm a "terrible privileged male", when the thing I don't agree with is that only women face sexism. I don't disagree that they have a much much larger share of it then men do. However at the same time why should they be the only ones worth fighting for? Shouldn't we fight for the equality of everybody? Shouldn't we try and make the workplace a great place for everybody to work? When a female troop comes up to me and says she is being harassed you can bet your ass I go and verbally fuck up the person who did it. Same thing when it happens to go the other way. If it keeps going on I take it up the chain and they get dealt with. That shit does not fly period. Regardless of your gender everybody deserves a safe place to work.

Thank god for Patrick, whenever I raised any issues about sexism in the industry on the forums years past, i always got dismissed with silly "descrimination doesn't exist anymore" arguements.

@MMann said:

Wrap it up everyone, we can go home: giant bomb forums user aceofspudz says these are just the result of overblown misunderstandings.

Sexism is over and we're just wasting our time trying to see it everywhere.

Not even remotely what I said. But hey, I guess sexism is so bad that you feel justified in being intellectually disingenuous. Good for you.

Work cultures that tolerate bullying and discrimination are a problem, and this is raising awareness to one facet of such.

What kind of arseholes are you people who think it's validity is something that needs to be debated?

Your mothers are all women, for fucks sake.

@aceofspudz said:

There was ONE instance of actual sexism, a few relatively innocent misunderstandings, a couple unfortunate truths not due to sexism, and some handwringing.

You're right man. You totally didn't say that most of those tweets weren't sexism and were instead just misunderstandings or 'unforturnate truths' not related to sexism.

I totally mischaracterized what you said. Except for that part where you said it was a few relatively innocent misunderstandings, a couple unfortunate truths not due to sexism, and some handwringing.

DONT THEY HAVE A HR DEPARTMENT?!

Not to be that guy... but this is something a white male is never gonna understand, call it what you want... I can understand wanting to be apart of the cause, I understand wanting to treat women with the same respect men are treated with... but white males, in America at least, are never really disrespected.

It's just the truth. When I say disrespected, I mean real disrespect, like when I walk around a store, and a guy follows me, or the store keeps tabs on me and only me, or when people comment on how "well spoken" I am, like until you have something like that happen to you (over the course of your lifetime) you're just not gonna "get it".

But yeah, treat women with respect, treat people with respect in the workplace.

@MMann said:

@aceofspudz said:

There was ONE instance of actual sexism, a few relatively innocent misunderstandings, a couple unfortunate truths not due to sexism, and some handwringing.

You're right man. You totally didn't say that most of those tweets weren't sexism and were instead just misunderstandings or 'unforturnate truths' not related to sexism.

I totally mischaracterized what you said. Except for that part where you said it was a few relatively innocent misunderstandings, a couple unfortunate truths not due to sexism, and some handwringing.

And you left it off again despite quoting me. I said there was one instance of sexism. I guess admitting that I said sexism exists would really fuck up your black and white worldview as well as render your previous post untrue.

Thinking this is in anyway unique to this industry makes you a fucking idiot.

Hurry up and have daughters and feed my endless need for supple 20 year olds.

Meow

@Judakel said:

@CaptStickybeard said:

@Judakel: Oh jeeze.

I guess I've been played.

Truly you're God's gift to women.

Keep fighting that good fight.

No one was trying to play you. The point I was making was genuine, I just knew you'd simply miss it. You're more concerned with turning the tables of people than anything else. It is the same reason every idiot asks for suggestions during these arguments.

I didn't recommend Louis CK. No need to include him in a reply to me.

i realize i'm taking this completely out of context, and re-appropriating the clip for my own purposes- but i'm glad this thread reminded me of this louie c.k. clip. the point he makes at 6:39- is EXACTLY the point that should be taken away from all of this- anytime someone invokes language or actions that single someone out based on their sex, race, nationality or sexuality- consider what the man says. you can replace comedian with any derogatory word you like- the outlook still fits.

@aceofspudz said:

@MMann said:

@aceofspudz said:

There was ONE instance of actual sexism, a few relatively innocent misunderstandings, a couple unfortunate truths not due to sexism, and some handwringing.

You're right man. You totally didn't say that most of those tweets weren't sexism and were instead just misunderstandings or 'unforturnate truths' not related to sexism.

I totally mischaracterized what you said. Except for that part where you said it was a few relatively innocent misunderstandings, a couple unfortunate truths not due to sexism, and some handwringing.

And you left it off again despite quoting me. I said there was one instance of sexism. I guess admitting that I said sexism exists would really fuck up your black and white worldview as well as render your last statement untrue.

Actually it's right there at the beginning.

It's right there in what I quoted that you said there was one instance of sexism. I didn't leave it out at all, and then I went on to use the word most instead of all, which means that I was saying you only said the majority of the tweets weren't sexist. Which is exactly what you did and what I claimed you did outside of my first hyperbolic response to your systemic failure to understand or empathize with the tweeters.

I think you're just really looking to paint me as something I'm not so that I'm easier to dismiss.

@CrimsonNoir said:

@sikapwach said:

@CaptStickybeard:

Oh.

This was the exact tweet that pissed me off pretty bad. Sometimes reactions that are not based on sex (thinking leigh can be all of the above things she mentioned) get pinned as sexism.

Her argument is invalid because everyone loves drunken Karen Snider.

To be fair, I think Karen might get somewhat of a pass because she's related to someone that folks around here are incredibly fond of. If Leigh Alexander were Leigh Caravella, I bet there would have been a distinctly less venomous response to her Bombcast appearances. But yeah, she was annoying.

@aceofspudz: You are a terrible person.

@OneManX said:

treat women with respect, treat people with respect in the workplace.

i give respect to people that deserve my respect. "treat all women with respect"? some of the most hateful, disgusting and selfish people i met has been women. Should i give them respect just because they have a vagina? No, i treat everyone equal and that make feminists hate me when i call them out on their bullshit sometimes. but hey, maybe i should just swallow all the shit that thrown at me just because i am a white male.

I was playing UNCHARTED 3 multiplayer with one of my friends in a two player party. We got matched up against a party of five, and one of them was using mic. Their team won becasue the other random players on my team were basically running into their team.

After the match was over, the one guy on the opposing team was attempting to taunt us. He tried mocking us and for some reason made mention that the other players on his team were girls by saying, "You got your asses kicked and the others on my team are a bunch of girls.".

I asked what their gender mattered. Women have the same ability at games as any guy. I went on to mention that he wasn't a very good friend since he felt the need to diminish his "friends" skill because they're girls in some attempt to mock other people. We just laughed at him becasue he cares so much about a video game.

I've heard a lot of sexist a-holes in online games. You should hear some of the crap I've heard when I use one of the women's skin in UC3.

More of my male friends play video games then my female friends. I can understand why game companies target male audiences. It's where they feel the money is and they might be right. I don't understand how employers after all of this fucking time are STILL having problems with sexism. It seems to me that it is entirely TOO easy to not be sexist to employees/co-workers. It's called being a professional. Why is this still a problem? I make you a bet that if more women purchased video games it would probably reduce the amount of sexism in the industry as a side effect. Just a thought. Also, can you imagine being a female employee that worked on Duke Nukem Forever... I felt gross playing it... Imagine what it feels like to have made it! Yuck!

Yeah guys, eye rolling and ironic sexism is the solution. Keep on turning a blind eye dudebros!

@FoxxFireArt:

I actually hear that more from "girl gamers" than guys.

I find if sort of funny, because they're insulting themselves when they say "you got beat by a girl!", yet they have no idea.

Women are not intrinsically worse at games than guys, so whether I was beaten by a man or woman, neither is more significant. Apparently a lot of female gamers think they are, though, and that sucks. :/

After reading them quite a bit....some of these tweets are trivial at best, though, like: (this post is specific to this tweet, so don't freak out thinking I'm making overarching statements)

A guy assumed you were a receptionist? That sucks, and he's an idiot that stereotypes into gender roles.

I've been told multiple times by women in my adult life that I'm "worthless as a man" because I have no knowledge of "normal manly things" like working on a car, or fixing things around the house.

Isn't that the same kind of gender stereotyping?

If I claimed to be a victim of sexism, I'd probably get laughed at and told to just "deal" with stupid people who stereotype, so in all seriousness, why is this woman who is being assumed to be a receptionist such a big thing? I know this article is related specifically to the games industry, but still....

How many male developers are just assumed to be "no-life neckbeard virgins for life!" just because they play or develop games? Seems like "assumptions based on gender in the industry" could go both ways.

I don't want to marginalize the problems these women face in any way; I'm just thinking out loud.

I think each and every one of us has run into some gender-based stereotyping at one point or another, and there are far greater concerns about sexism in the games industry than "being taken for a secretary".

@chaosnovaxz: You just totally do not get it at all. You cannot be a man and claim that "Well we all go through this kind of stuff". It is idiotic, ignorant bullshit. The fact that it does not bother you and it has controlled their lives is evidence enough.

Here's a quick guide

1. If you are a male and think you also undergo similar gender stereotypes, so it's a non-issue, you are an idiot

2. If you are a male and think you are receiving some unbearable pushback because women are standing up against a culture that has marginalized them, you are an idiot.

3. If you think the method is more important than the message, you are misguided at best.

@Ksaw said:

@CrimsonNoir said:

@sikapwach said:

@CaptStickybeard:

Oh.

This was the exact tweet that pissed me off pretty bad. Sometimes reactions that are not based on sex (thinking leigh can be all of the above things she mentioned) get pinned as sexism.

Her argument is invalid because everyone loves drunken Karen Snider.

To be fair, I think Karen might get somewhat of a pass because she's related to someone that folks around here are incredibly fond of. If Leigh Alexander were Leigh Caravella, I bet there would have been a distinctly less venomous response to her Bombcast appearances. But yeah, she was annoying.

I know its not exactly the same, but folks love Giant Bomb, this doesn't stop them from disliking Patrick.

@zombie2011: Yeah, bit of an odd example to highlight. I liked that game, but the story and characters were super forgettable, the setting and platforming mechanics were what stuck with me about that game. I guess that helps illustrate the point though, if THAT is the best example of women having serious writing jobs in the industry maybe some hiring policies need to be looked at. Saw some stat today that only % of the industry is women, which is pretty crazily disproportionate.

@KidA:

Woah there, little moron, I never said their plight didn't bother me. Quite the opposite, actually.

I just mentioned that everyone runs into some gender stereotyping over the course of their life, not that that stereotyping was ok.

So, you're honestly calling me an idiot for saying no one should have to put up with that? Aren't you an upstanding citizen?

@chaosnovaxz: Weird logic. You would have been laughed at... but do you believe that is what's right? That's all you need to ask yourself. Should we call all guys who can't tell a V8 from a V6 ****s ?

@chaosnovaxz: Sorry, I just read a lot of annoying comments and snapped on yours. I didn't mean to sound so harsh, my bad.

@GERALTITUDE:

My point was that it's all bullshit.

I'm not sure why everyone instantly jumps to the conclusion that I'm trying to victimize myself and scream "me too!" because I mentioned it. Not only that, but assuming I just "don't care" about any woman in this situation.

If assuming a woman is a receptionist just because of her gender is so intolerably wrong, shouldn't it also stand that it's wrong to assume the same thing about a guy in a similar circumstance? ("men are supposed to do these things!").

Why are there so many idiots supporting double standards?

@chaosnovaxz: Because there is a double standard, you cannot equate male and female sexism. One is based mostly on annoying stereotyping, and the other one has held back half the population of earth in extremely harmful ways for all known history.

@KidA:

I suppose I should also apologize.

I guess I did go off the rails mentioning stuff not dealing with the games industry.

I completely acknowledge my excessive privilege as a white male.

I just thought some of those tweets were very trivial in nature. We've all been incorrectly stereotyped and judged. I don't face sexism daily (or hardly ever) like these women do, and I respect them more than any man in the industry because they handle it day to day.

EDIT: Right, but assuming this woman is a receptionist in this specific example doesn't hold her back - she is still a full fledged game dev. There's just some idiot invoking an annoying stereotype when he meets her, like you mentioned. That's why I made sure to note that this post was all about that one, specific tweet, so no one would freak.

I was by no means stating that "men have it hard too!", because they don't.

@chaosnovaxz: Oh alright, I got it. Sorry again mang

Circumstances.

I was raised by my mom who worked her ass off to feed and put clothing on me and my brother. I had 11 girl cousins who I loved hanging out with. We had a female prime minister for 12 years straight (most of my childhood). I never perceived women as anything but equals -- and I didn't even consider the word equal as we were all just people, in life, together. I suspect it's like this in most of Scandinavia and it has been for some time. I don't know why it takes so long for other countries to just "get it" and move on. I can only imagine it's circumstantial.