Blog Banter: Breaking Down the Stereotypes
March 27, 2008 21 Comments
Welcome, welcome to the 4th installment of Blog Banter, the monthly blogging extravaganza headed by bs angel! Blog Banter involves our cozy community of enthusiastic gaming bloggers, a common topic, and a week to post articles pertaining to said topic. The results are quite entertaining and can range from deep insight to ROFLMAO. Any questions about Blog Banter should be directed here. Check out other Blog Banter articles at the bottom of this post!
The world is full of stereotypes. For some reason people love taking large groups of people and then assuming they all share the same basic characteristics. We are subjected to stereotyping based on everything from gender to race to religion to particular interests we are passionate about. How many times have you been confronted with generalizations people make about gamers that couldn’t be farther from the truth? I thought I would take some stereotypical statements about gamers from various articles around the internet and see how close to home they land. Do I fit the stereotype? Do I break the mold? We are about to find out.
Gamers are asocial, introverted loners. [Source]
I love playing through single player campaigns and there is nothing I enjoy more sometimes than curling up with my favorite puzzle game and secluding myself from the world for a few hours. However the majority of the time when I sit down to play, I find myself actively seeking company. For me, playing video games is a social experience. I crave the positive interactions that multiplayer gaming offers. Gaming is a hobby of mine because I find it to be a fun, relaxing experience. Gaming is a passionate hobby of mine because of the people I share that experience with.
Results : Myth dispelled!
I know a few female gamers but they’re all typical geeks. Now, you can get male gamers that are also handsome, fit and non-geeky. So where are these game girls? [Source]
Typical geek? I am deeply offended by such terms. Would you call someone who writes poetry about a particular Halo map a geek? Would you call someone who spends two hours crafting a video game character out of paper and then delicately blinging it a geek? Would you call someone that bakes a cake in the shape of their favorite seven foot tall Spartan a geek? What? … Well shit.
Results : Fail. Of the epic variety.
Girls only play because they have a boyfriend who plays. [Source]
When playing on Live, I have been asked numerous times if I am playing on my boyfriend’s account. Or my brother’s account. Or any male that has a gaming account. Some females are introduced to gaming through the males in their life, and there is nothing wrong with that. Some males are probably introduced through the females in their life as well. While I have been a gamer for as long as I have been walking, I was brought into the multiplayer online world by my sister I am proud to say. We had an Xbox and of course Halo CE, but I hadn’t played it beyond the campaign at that point. She came over one day, popped it in and forced me to play against her. It was a painful experience that involved mass amounts of blood and death. It was also the moment several years ago that I was introduced to the wonders of multiplayer gaming and I haven’t looked back since. My sister often says she had no idea what she was getting me into. I blame her.
Results : Myth dispelled!
Female gamers have more sex than their non playing counterparts. [Source]
When I told my husband the results of this study, he literally spit his coffee out across the table. In between bursts of coughing and laughing, he said that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Once he managed to catch his breath, he gave me a dirty look and said I should make an effort to act like other female gamers. Female gamers have more sex? Not in this household. (You can cry my husband a river later.)
Results : Myth dispelled!
Girl gamers love pink peripherals. [Source]
Girl gamers love pink peripherals, psh. That has got to be one of the silliest generalizations out there. It’s not like I have a pink Spartan faceplate. Or pink video game action figures. And I don’t play with a pink controller. And that pink controller certainly doesn’t have a matching pink battery pack. And I have never searched the internet far and wide for a pink headset. *looks around
Results : I fail. At life.
What do you think is the biggest stereotype gamers face today? Does it accurately describe you?
Check out these other Blog Banter articles! The Average Gamer, Silvercublogger, shinybento, Unfettered Blather, Boom Stick Brigade, Gamer Unit, Zath!, Man Bytes Blog, Game Couch, Video Game Sandwich, Delayed Responsibility, thoughts and rants, Hawty McBloggy
Gamers in general have a geeky character about themselves that personally I’m proud of… it doesn’t represent the entire character, it’s just a snapshot in an album of character… so be happy! You not only acknowledge your geeky nature… you embrace it! Now go embrace your husband! I’m sure glad my wife doesn’t play video games… exactly the opposite… she’s usually begging me to get off the xbox and have sex with her!
My wife loves pink anyway. That’s just a women stereotype in general. If she had her own 360 controller, I have no doubt it would be the pink one. It would also hold a charge the longest as neither myself nor our two boys would touch it!
Interesting post, I’m sure anyone looking to reinforce a stereotype will see an aspect of that stereotype in any individual they are trying to apply it to. That’s often the real problem with stereotypes, you don’t have it applied because you meet a standard of 51%, but just 5% or 10% of the stereotype will do if they want to pigeonhole you into it.
I don’t think stereotypes are necessarily a bad thing, especially from a sociology perspective, but it’s sad that some people can never see beyond a stereotype when they’re interacting with someone on a personal level.
LOL at the “Female gamers have more sex than their non playing counterparts.” one… I posted something about that too and when I asked my husband to read it, he practically did the same but, but not with coffee.. he almost choked on his pizza because he was laughing histerically lol.
Nice post angel :) I look forward to next months topic!
angel I love you :)
I deal with all kinds of BS daily. I’m a cognitive behavioral therapist *laugh* and I happen to be a hardcore gamer, pierced, tattooed, computer geek, and gadget fiend. *grin* I get all kinds of looks and people looking at me sideways.
I think females who do ANYTHING -outside of what the “male oriented” aliens of our society believe them capable of or interested in- are going to get that “eye”.
Gaming is moving along at a lot more than a clip as far as being more and more mainstream and because of that it’s attracting more and more idiots attention which is a shame. I think gamers have to continue to work harder to show themselves in all their colors, styles, and attitudes to get past this garbage – if it will ever happen who knows. It hasn’t happened still for a lot of groups.
You can only keep fighting the good XBLive fight and fragging the idiot n00bs and blogging beautifully as you do, angel!
Didn’t someone say Pink was the new Black? *grin*
I would like to state that one of my female gaming companions actually is a model and does not look or act geeky at all, okay she does hold 360 LAN-party’s but atleast she does not wear her Xbox Jewel as an actual jewel or her headset around her neck to school….. like I do.
she is a fanatic gamer but she does not show it to the outside world. but my girlfriend Jannet on the other hand… yes that’s a geek whom steals all computer stuff I demontage to wear as pendants can’t even listen Elvis Presley anymore because the inside of my classic rock/jazz/blues MP3 hangs around her neck and yes I have multiple MP3′s for multiple music styles the avor mentioned,one for game-music and one for rock/goth/electronic.
I’m editing this “she’s usually begging me to get off the xbox and have sex with her!” out of your comment Belpers. If my husband sees that, I will never hear the end of it. ;)
Jason, the point you make about the color pink and you and your boys not touching it is probably the root of my passion behind that particular color. I have all sons, plus the hubby, so the pink things are the only stuff they refuse to touch. It works out well for me!
That’s actually something I work really hard with here, and that is simply being myself. I get heavily criticized for the silliest things (like how much I like the color pink) but I continue to ignore it. I am who I am. You are who you are. And all of that is ok.
I would get along with your girlfriend so well. :)
I am finally here! Saved the best for last.. Wow!
I was thinking that was how you were going to write this.
Its amazing how everyone had something different to say about this scenario.
Not every girl likes pink or video games, but hey neither do all the boys.. LOL.
Silly people creating these stupid stereotypes – especially the sex one.. where did they get those statistics from??
This was an enjoyable read :)
angel, and why am I apt to believe that you are criticized more by other gamer females for liking pink than gamer guys? :)
Gamers are female too. But if you’re TOO female then it is bad for other gamer females? If you like pink it’s a stereotype and you’re working against all females who are trying to break out of the pinkness of femininity. If you game too MUCHh then you are genderless and antisocial and have clearly no sense of self. If you game too WELLl then you’re a threat to every male who ever existed. But then again I thought society deemed that all gamer males were antisocial and didn’t know what a female even was so how could us gamer gals be a threat to them? *laugh*
It’s all chaos theory. Keep doing the great work, angel and keep being you :) With your Halo baking :)
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Ah, I read your profile on Being a Blogger after you said that. I knew you were married but didn’t know about the kids.
My poor wife is the only woman in the house, so I’m sure you can relate. She is also very girlie in that she links pink and lace. Despite her extra girliness, she is simply swamped by the testosterone factory around here.
Still, even though she’s not a gamer I couldn’t ask for a better wife and mother. It’s been fun having her get more involved since we’ve gotten the Wii and the Guitar Hero series.
“I get heavily criticized for the silliest things (like how much I like the color pink) but I continue to ignore it. I am who I am. You are who you are. And all of that is ok. ”
I’m the only really hardcore gamer in my group of friends, especially for halo! [ i have a halo warthhog figurine, and used to have a 6 inch masterchief figurine until a friend of mine broke it, I had several halo posters, I've given most away to my good friends though.] Anyways I constantly deal with my friends and one of my brothers bothering me about gaming too much! But I just stick to the same principal that BS angel stated above
I’m me and your you! : )
“Female gamers have more sex? Not in this household. (You can cry my husband a river later.)”
I’ll cry him a ocean…
I AM SO SORRY MAN….
That’s all we can do right? First and foremost, we have to stay true to ourselves. :)
the biggest stereotype gamers face today?
Games are considered immature.
Every few days me and my friend in one lesson like to repeatedly talk about Halo, to the annoyance of the others on our table, but screw them. Their are others in the room, chavs to be precise, who believe it’s a great idea to tell us we have no lives and to do something else. I kindly tell them that I don’t tell them not to talk about what they like, so they should piss off and let us talk about what we like.
Needless to say, it hasn’t happened since I said that the 1st few times…
Although I am still a mega Halo geek =P
I’ve never in my life heard the myth that female gamers have more sex than non-gamer ladies. In fact, the concept of it doesn’t make much sense to me at all. Surely the non-gamers, having spare time NOT occupied by gaming, would be more susceptible to some sexy time, right?
I lollerskated at the last point of girls wanting pink peripherals. It couldn’t be truer. My girlfriend even insisted that if I ever wanted a chance at getting her playing the 360 I would need to buy her a pink controller, otherwise no deal.
It was a painful experience that involved mass amounts of blood and death.
I’m glad you recognize that at *some* point, I was able to kick your butt in Halo. Even if that point was before you even knew the power and draw of Halo and xbox live. :)
My sister often says she had no idea what she was getting me into. I blame her.
Me, too!!!! ;) But really, on a more serious note, I wouldn’t change a thing. You make such an impact and are really pushing the envelope. I am proud to be the sister of such a introverted, geeky, pink-loving gamer. :D (I put on earmuffs during the sex part.)
I don’t think there is anything particularly sinister about the practice of stereotyping. As you said yourself in your intro: “For some reason people love taking large groups of people and then assuming they all share the same basic characteristics.”
That is exactly right; there is some innate tendency in the human brain to group things together and discern common characteristics in a given data set. This is how we process information; without that filtering and defining of data, we would be immersed in unintelligible nonsense.
The important thing is that this classification and definition does not blind us to data that disagrees with our groupings. This is as important with scientific hierarchies as it is with human relationships. Our cultural and personal beliefs (that is, the “filters” through which we see the universe) tend to make us ignore the exceptions to the stereotypes, when in fact we should take those exceptions as indications that our stereotypes are incorrect. That is what your post here is doing; proving that these stereotypes are not accurate.
However, people should never criticize the practice of stereotyping (or, as they call it in science, classifying) because of one particular bad stereotype (or classification). This practice of generalizing data is crucial to the way the human brain works, and without it we would not have evolved to a thinking species.
Anyway, nice article; just wanted to throw my tangential two cents in.
Whoah! Seriously? People actually believe this shit? (Excuse my language.)
I’m shocked. Well done recording this, bs angel! Though, I’m still very very appalled by this entire post. I admit, I’ve heard of girls making a fuss about their gender being discriminated throughout the gaming community, but I never heard of anything like this. I guess it’s also mainly because I’ve never dealt with people who don’t understand the whole idea of “girls playing video games”. All the guys I know are perfectly aware that I play and are always as eager as I am when it comes to something like Brawl or Guitar Hero III.
I can’t even express how surprised I am. I think it’s absolutely stupid to “stereotype” girl gamers like that. It’s really unfair. I always thought that guys would be slightly more mature in the gaming community, but hey, this just shows that there will always be immature people everywhere.
There shouldn’t ever be one specific “stereotype” of a female gamer. Mainly because you’ve got a whole variety (and not to mention diversity :D) of gamers. Girl gamers can be geeky, girly, classy, tomboyish, or feminine if they want to. It all depends on the girl. It’s the same with guys. Male gamers can be whatever they want to be, so there isn’t a stereotype for a “male gamer”.
I admit, I kind of do fit in with that stereotype about girls liking pink. If I had an Xbox 360, I would totally buy a pink controller because I think it looks cute. But then again, is it really wrong to have something in your favorite color? I mean, heck, if there was a sky-blue DS Lite, I’d buy that. (Also if I get off my broke ass and get a job to actually get a DS Lite.) But it’s all preference.
For some girls, they wanna express themselves through their game controllers, consoles, and accessories. It all depends on a girl’s preference. They shouldn’t stereotype girls to be like that 24/7, because it’s totally not true. It doesn’t mean that all girls are like that. I know for a fact that one of my female gamer friends would probably die if her parents got her a pink DS Lite or whatever. So it’s all basically decisions on what a girl wants.
The sex bit also surprised me. Wow. If that was true, I’d have AIDS by now. Or I’d be pregnant, dropped out of high school, and living my life as an illegal stripper. :P
Keep up your awesome work blogging, bs angel!!! I respect you for taking so much time to blog everything and pointing out this. Excellent blogging! The fact that you bring this up as a female gamer just adds more kudos points to you! I’m saving this blog on my Bookmarks. :D
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the subject. I agree with many of your points. Some stereotypes we will fit, some stereotypes we won’t, and in the whole scheme of things I don’t think it matters as long as we are being true to ourselves. :)