Windsoar wrote an interesting piece about gender (link) yesterday that I started to comment on, and then realized my comment became much more of a full post quite quickly. I recommend reading the original post and comments, and then coming back to read this one. For those who would rather read a couple of highlights to get an idea of what the discussion explores the first two sections below are an overview, with the following sections being the primary topic I want to explore.

What is it about the male/female division that captivates us, even in the discussion of a video game?

Due in part to the stereotypical “traditional gender roles” we have cultivated in society as well as the difficulty most have in understanding a viewpoint other than their own, the discussion revolving around “male” or “female” perspectives is often a source of passionate debate and, sometimes, even blind adherence to emotionally charged mantras rooted in the same aforementioned stereotypes. It comes as no surprise, then, that gender discussion captivates people for numerous reasons, with the most common being misunderstanding or emotional attachment to a “traditional” or “cultural” viewpoint (note, further exploration on how gender is misunderstood can be found in the third section, entitled “Gender: Socially Constructed or Biologically Determined?”).

Who gets to talk about gender?

Realistically everyone has just as much reason to discuss gender issues as anyone else. Why, then, are the discussions typically posited by females instead of males? Certainly both are affected by issues relating to gender, albeit the issues will normally be different in type or scope.

There are a number of theories that can be presented as to why this is the case. The generally accepted thought is simply that women are more interested in discussing gender issues due to one of two reasons: 1) women generally discuss emotions (and as a result how they feel about gender issues) more often or more readily than men, or 2) men simply do not take as much notice of gender-related issues. Quite frankly, both “reasons” are inaccurate and incomplete.

For example, the link between gender-related discussions and emotion only exists as a result of the manner of discourse used by most of those who choose to explore such issues. While I’m not a fan of relying on stereotypes, there is merit in considering that stereotypes are generally created due to the majority, or perceived majority, of those stereotyped engaging in a generalized action. In other words, because women typically present ideas or examine concepts with a more emotional edge than men they are perceived as emotional in general, whether accurate or not (it should be noted that research indicates this particular stereotype holds currently, although there are indicators that this may be changing to a more even balance in light of traditional gender roles becoming reevaluated).

Gender: Socially Constructed or Biologically Determined?

Gender is a primarily socially constructed identity. Through socialization we learn behaviors, values, and accepted roles defined by a number of differences, including gender, and this process even begins before birth (think about the simple choice parents make in clothing for their children, colors used in decorations for a child’s room, and toys that are purchased for boys versus girls). Throughout our lives we are “directed” toward “gender-appropriate” activities, behaviors, and appearances based on traditional “acceptable” gender roles.

Considering the above thought, it comes as no surprise that the image of “gamer” typically evokes thoughts of boys playing console games, or competitions among adolescent males. It is a stereotype that even adult males continue to combat, with the stigma of “overweight loser living in a parent’s home” still attached to the notion of what an adult gamer is in the minds of the uneducated, or simply uninformed, public. Add the “girl gamer” monicker and the subject becomes almost incomprehensible to those whose views align with the aforementioned stereotype.

It was not until recent years that people began to even speak of games as a fun behavior for any age/sex group, and we are just now on the verge of fighting back the stereotypical notions referenced above and replacing them with the image of the “average Joe/Jane.”  Think about the people you generally interact with. How many of them openly admit to being gamers in various social circles? How recent a development is the idea of it being “acceptable” to be a gamer? 

So, what is it about gender issues that creates such a ruckus?

Quite simply, the misunderstanding of what a gamer actually is. As with any other subculture, gamers are found in varying degrees (and extremes). In addition, the realization that gender does not actually have any bearing on interest in gaming or game-related activities provokes confusing thoughts among those who still view things through the same, malformed stereotype of what “gamers” are. As with anything else, having a viewpoint that was based on what a person perceived most of their life changed due to the awareness of others that do not fit that viewpoint causes controversy, and unfortunately it is not always in a positive, constructive manner.