‘They say I belong in the kitchen’: UAE players denounce gender bias – News

In recent years, the gaming industry has undergone a massive transformation, going from a mere recreational activity to a thriving profession. Gaming, once perceived as a male-dominated domain, now attracts a wide range of players, including a significant increase in female participation. However, despite all the progress, gender bias and discrimination persist within the industry, hindering the full realization of women’s potential as players and professionals.

Demographic changes: women in video games

The global gaming industry has witnessed exponential growth, emerging as a titan in the entertainment and media sector. According to a report by PwC, total revenue from video games is projected to increase from $262 billion in 2023 to an estimated $312 billion in 2027. This increase in popularity and profitability underscores the significant cultural and economic impact of games around the world.

Traditionally, video games have been stereotyped as a male-dominated activity. However, demographics are changing rapidly and women are increasingly embracing gaming as a form of entertainment and career path. In Saudi Arabia, for example, 39 percent of gamers are women, surpassing the UAE’s 29 percent and the GCC average of 30 percent. Similarly, in the United States, women accounted for nearly 41 percent of all gamers in 2020. In Asia, where gaming revenues dominate, women make up 40 to 45 percent of the gaming population, which highlights its important presence in the industry.

Challenges faced by female players

Despite the growing number of female gamers, gender bias and discrimination persist as significant challenges within the gaming community. Women face derogatory comments, verbal abuse and harassment, both online and offline. Dalya Herbawi, also known as Lyapop, a Jordanian-Palestinian gamer based in the United Arab Emirates, recounts her experiences of discrimination, in which she faced sexist comments and the trivialization of her gaming skills.

“Online, I’ve faced discrimination firsthand. Some people come to my stream just to tell me that the kitchen is my place, simply because I made a mistake or had a bad day playing. They forget that everyone, including men, sometimes he messes up in his game.”

Similarly, Zaya Kod, a Russian expat living in Dubai, known as BunnyGirlZenpai in the gaming and cosplay world, has encountered prejudice from her male counterparts. “As a gamer, I have encountered discrimination and prejudice in various ways within the gaming community,” she adds.

Due to the prejudice she has faced, Zaya prefers not to turn on the audio while interacting during games. “I feel nervous using a microphone during competitive games, especially when I am not performing well. I worry that other players will judge me or make fun of me, particularly men, who might see my performance as a reflection of all female players.”

Zaya Kod

While the Russian player prefers to hide her identity, Ayalla El Barawy, also known as KillerBunny, believes that facing that prejudice head-on is a better way to deal with it. The Egyptian expat identifies sexist attitudes within the industry and a lack of representation in game development as the biggest barriers that female gamers must overcome in the industry. She acknowledges that it is “difficult to break these stereotypes,” but she is actively working to achieve it.

“I’ve felt excluded because of my gender. I usually face it head-on or find a more inclusive group to play with,” Ayalla says, adding that she doesn’t feel welcome in certain gaming spaces because of her gender.

Husna Murad, a Pakistani expat who played Call Of Duty and Battlefield multiplayer, on the other hand, stopped connecting or playing multiplayer with people she didn’t know. “Most of them (men) would simply leave the game if they heard a female voice in the group to join another team. Or saying, ‘Oh, man, we have a girl on our team, we’re going to lose,’ or just using bad words,” adds Husna, as she recounts her tormenting experiences.

But with changing times and more and more female gamers holding the reins with those joysticks in hand, what do men in the gaming industry think about how the industry can be more inclusive for women?

“Currently, we are seeing more tournaments, events and mentions for female players, and we are seeing many gaming entities ensuring that they are included both online and offline. Obviously, this has been improving over the years and will hopefully continue to do so,” says Bibi Zumot, a Jordanian expat who works in the gaming and media field and is also an active gamer and creator.

Bibi is also a “strong advocate for having women in the gaming industry and is always willing to support them on their journey,” encouraging many of her friends to play, stream, and attend gaming events.

Bibi Zumot

Understanding the causes of online harassment

One of the root causes of online harassment is often the lack of consequences for bad behavior. Sometimes, players who harass others online can remain anonymous by choosing not to reveal their true identity. In fact, gaming platforms often do little to address complaints or curb offensive behavior.

In this competitive gaming environment, women who speak out and assert themselves online often face a peculiar kind of gender-based hostility. These attacks are not based solely on disagreements over opinions or perspectives; They are driven by a desire to silence and intimidate women who challenge traditional norms.

However, it is important to note that it is not only men who are guilty of mistreating women; Women can also be held responsible. In a 2017 Ted Talk, Lilian Chen, who grew up playing Super Smash Brothers Melee, shared her experience. “As a woman, she was sexist and misogynistic towards my own gender,” she mentioned.

“Personally I have been toxic to players who have been toxic to me, but I have learned that there is no point in behaving in the same way. I find it better to ignore the nonsense to keep myself at peace.”

Creating a safer online environment

What happens to those who suffer cyberbullying in games? The consequences can be serious. These people may experience depression, isolation, and anger due to toxicity. Women play video games either for personal fulfillment or as part of their professional endeavors.

Unfortunately, many withdraw from interactions to avoid potential harassment while playing, leading to feelings of isolation. Therefore, it is important to address this issue because online harassment has become disturbingly normalized within the gaming community.

Dalya Herbawi

“The gaming industry can step forward against toxic behavior and harassment in gaming communities. They can do this by establishing better reporting and moderation systems and fostering a culture of respect and understanding among players. The industry can help and give a voice to more female streamers and gamers to show that we exist and that we are important members of this community,” said Zaya.

Greater representation of women employed in the gaming industry is necessary to create a safe environment for female gamers. Harassment drives women away from games and the gaming industry, creating a vicious cycle of underrepresentation, which in turn allows misogyny to go unchecked.

“Developers and game companies can better serve female gamers by including diverse and well-developed female characters, creating inclusive stories, engaging with female gamers for feedback, increasing female representation on development teams, and marketing games in ways that attract female audiences. ” she adds.

Dalya Herbawi has a similar opinion. “Esports organizations can start organizing more women’s tournaments that have one women’s team for every men’s team. In addition to hosting those tournaments, they can livestream them so people can see that girls can really play!

The power of speaking

In the Ted Talk video, Lilian Chen says, “My experience showed me that my silence only fueled more sexism in video games.” Talking openly about your gaming experience can help other players become more aware of harmful behavior. It also allows them to share their own experiences in the gaming community, while remaining silent can lead to more sexism.

While there has been a notable increase in female participation within the online gaming community, there remains a worrying trend of harmful behavior such as online harassment, doxing and discrimination, which negatively impacts all players and undermines the security of the gaming environment.

As players mention, we all have the power to make a change and combat misogyny within online games. Many women around the world have faced online harassment, and by reporting such behavior in games or elsewhere, we can collectively work to foster a safer, more supportive online community.

sugra@khaleejtimes.com

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