60% of women report experiencing discrimination in video games

Eleven years have passed since that tweet, but unfortunately, the The situation in the video game industry It’s very similar. according to himA study of gender stereotypes, roles, and relations: Diagnostics and solutions to foster changes in the video game industrywhich was published The Association of Female Producers and Audiovisual Media in 2022 33.33% of women have been harassed during their careers and 59.26% They have experienced discrimination.

The video game proved to be an exclusive space for men, A refuge where women are not invited because they cannot make good programmers or innovators. They were always there, but they are not visible. Expert Marina Amores, who just published the book “Play Like a Girl. Challenges Facing Women in North America” video game and technology”in which she addresses the mechanisms and strategies used to separate women from this sector, whether as developers, communications or players.

despite of 48% of all Spanish players are women, There remains a patriarchal industry, in which, in the writer’s words, “the male workforce has created games that not only consider their own demographic group, but demean all signs of womanhood.”

A graduate in Audiovisual Communication with a master’s degree in Creative Documentary Theory and Practice, Amores started playing video games at the age of three, but it was much later when she became aware of this disparity. “Advertising decides how these cultural products are sold and who it addresses,” explains the author, who uses her experience as a consumer and an operator in the industry.

challenges

Despite the fact that changes are beginning to emerge, the presence of women in the industry remains a challenge, ever since female employment reaches only 23%, According to data from the “White Paper on Spanish Video Game Development 2021”.

That’s why, in the words of Amores, the current biggest challenge is Retention of female talent. “It is not only important to attract them, but to keep them and make sure they are in a dignified and healthy environment, where they are No gender bias, no threats, no sexual harassment… This means that they have the same salary and job promotion opportunities, ”he claimed. However, the numbers show that this still does not exist, because according to the CIMA report, there is only one 45.84% of permanent contracts are among women, compared to 69.52% in the male sector. The wage gap is also evident. Men earn an average of €22,850 per year, while women earn €19,482, what with a difference of more than 3,000 euros, According to a report on living and working conditions in video game development in Spain that was carried out for Game Workers Unite Spain.

“We’ve made changes, but the industry resists a lot and it’s slow,” denounces Amores, who laments that in companies There is still a lack of specific policies to promote diversity and the gender equality And work protocols in cases of harassment or discrimination.