Now my title could spark many an argument about stereotypes within the sexes, but there is one I'd like to bring up after discussions of it today - gaming and females.
Im not usually a debater (due to my stubbornness to stick to my own views, and my very little care for people's feelings at times >.>), but i thought i'd give it a go with this, as i have experience first hand on both sides of the spectrum thanks to my job at Game (Yes, thats the name of the store, see i link so no one asks lol).

Today in class while sitting around working on the computers with friends (which is a group of 5 males 19 to 26 years old) and we get into the discussion of newest games out or soon to come out. One of the guys (named phil) gets totally annoyed because I knew more about a game that was coming out than he did (as he said, considering he's the fan of the series and im a girl xP), and happened to know some other game dates off the top of my head and other random things like whats in their limited edition packs and general in-game things.
Naturally the guys laugh at him for being 'pwned by a girl' and phil goes on about how girls really arn't 'true gamers' and should stick to things like clothing and makeup, and should leave gaming to guys - also taking the usual shots about how owning nintendogs or brain training doesn't make you a gamer yadda yadda (i actually don't own those games xD; but he threw it out there) - so i rip him a new one telling him that gaming as a hobby is almost 50-50 males and females now and how i've met many a girl gamer who was really cool and could kick a guys ass in any game.


Now working at a game store for the past couple of years, I've pretty much had my fair share from all sides of the spectrum - the think-they-know-it-alls, the 110% clueless, the WOW addicts who only come outside to stock up on timecards, the mothers who think mario games are on the PS3 - and overall, there are quite a number of males who don't think or believe girls should be playing their beloved halo or gears, or should stick to the more 'girlier' games like final fantasy or sims (which always makes me laugh considering there are alot of males who love those games, possibly more than females in some cases).

Being female actually hurts my sales as well (not just me either, all female sales people within the company are actually affected by the same things), I am usually lower than all the guys by a few grand each month - We are required as sale people to go up to customers and ask if they need help, and 9 out of 10 times if its a male the kindly refuse my help, but a minute later they go up to one of the guys and ask them a question i am more than capable of answering. Its annoying, and it sucks, and usually makes me leave at the end of the day in a bad mood.

Unfortunately, thanks some companies that hire females in their game sections, more time than not they don't have a clue what they are doing (Which always makes me question why they were hired in the first place) and this is very annoying for those of us who do know what they are doing - It doesn't help and just makes males think all female gamers are idiots.
The EB further down from us hired a couple of 'hot' girls because they believe it will bring more guys into their store (fyi, this is actually what they said - one of the guys i work with plays footy with the manager at this EB), but these girls don't know a thing about gaming! The EB where i am is still where most people go before coming to us (as they have been there for 10 years or so more than we have - its hard to break habbits :P), and guys do comment to my work mates that they refuse my help because they had such terrible service down at the competitors xP
Although me and my boyfriend do find it fun going down there and asking them super hard questions or really obvious things and they can never answer (we kinda got told off though >.> but i just told him to shove it up his ass and hire people who know what they are talking about)

If a guy actually walks up to me before asking the other guys anything, i always question (in my head) what they are trying to pull, and usually comes to these 3 main things;

• They think if they flirt enough with me i'll give them a discount or a freebie, and some do actually walk out of the store when i refuse or get mad and yell that they will buy it elsewhere with better service :roll:
• Like the challenge my knowledge on certain aspects of games or consoles, usually a group of boys trying to look good infront of their friends (and its always so much fun beating their pathetic asses at those things >.>)
• Or the all time classic that happens more times than not, try to take advantage of me and pass over our policies or rules about things within store (such as returns, trade-ins etc) - because they think im a girl, im going to easily give into whatever they want, and when i don't they demand to see the manager and i tell them i refuse to annoy my manager when he will say the same thing i said, so they either walk out and come back and try pull the same thing with the guys (but accept it when they say they can't do it for the same reason i gave them) or grudgingly accept and call me a bad salesperson xP

But it isn't all bad (although more bad than good at times), i do have a few regular customers who enjoy my company and always come up to me for a chat about the latest and greatest, and there are a few males out there who accept that girls can be just as good or better than guys when it comes to game (despite what their mates think at the time too).
An interesting turn of events, I do get most of the females come up to me for help (apart from the ones that think my work mates are cute and what to be served by them instead) because they do think the guys will be unhelpful and give them a whole bunch of jargon they won't understand.

SO after my long explanations, I want to hear what people have to say about these stereotypes and how they still linger around. And please, I don't mind if your going to be an arrogant ass here, state whatever you want in your posts, its your opinion!
So here are some things I want people's thoughts on;

• Are you a gamer? Or know someone who is?
• What do you think of female gamers/gamer in general?
• Have you every experienced/caused some of the things I've explained above? (don't worry, if you've been an annoying ass customer, i'll only pretend to bite your head off in my mind :yes: hah)
• Other things females are apparently oblivious to or are expected to do/know

Okay, I was huge into console gaming last generation (DC, PS2 GC etc.) When I would go into the store and shop for games and ask questions, the guys at the counter were always like "is this a gift for someone?" All leading like it was for a husband or boyfriend. And I'd be like "No, this is for myself." I would tell people that one day they'd ask me if it was 'for my kids', and then I'd cry. Now, it's around five years later and now they probably will ask me that. ; ; (I have no kids.)

Same sort of treatment at Games Workshop. ; ; The regular game store is not so bad because there just aren't that many huge rpg/war/tabletop game stores around.

For the most part I don't care though. I care more about the daily online play/treatment in games. THAT'S what drives me up a wall. Like throwing things and crying on the phone for six hours up a wall. And would be a longer essay than Tre's. D=

WOOOT! I get stares whenever I tell people I'm obsessed with mmorpgs/console games. Doesn't matter what it is, they look at me like I should be listening to Hannah Montana. (DO I REALLY LOOK LIKE A TEN YEAR OLD???!!! ) That ticks me off. Now I'm just used to hiding it or I tell people up front and if they don't accept my true love, they aren't going to be hanging around with me.

@ Guivre - I rather enjoy the last gen consoles too *pats her wonderful GC collection* :heart:
Hah, never had that happen to me thankfully, but I don't shop outside of my own store often, what kind of games were they that you were buying?
Its good that you don't care what they think =D lol, feel free to post your rants if you want, they may be an interesting read ^^ I don't play many MMORPG's anymore so i don't recall any bad treatment apart from people killing people >.>;

@ toohsie - haha xD true love, such a good way to describe it :) I use to have similar issues when i was much younger, because all my girl friends ever wanted to do was clothes shop, while i'd sneak off and look at games >.>; They thought i was strange too that i'd rather play games till 5am on weekends

I've been a gamer for the longest time. I generally don't get any questions and don't like to ask questions at stores. I go, I buy, I leave, and I squirm over what I bought then I play. XD Let it be RPGs, FPS, or so and so, they don't ask if it's for a gift or not. I guess I give this, "Don't talk to me" vibe ><;; As some people have said. There was this one time though when my 360's RAM overheated. I called into Xbox to see if I could get it repaired, spouted off secondary error codes and what not. The guy on the other side just sounded like he was slack jawed and continued on with his questions. At the end while he was entering everything in the computer he asked me. "So is this your brothers, boyfriends, or father's 360?" I replied with a, "Uh.... it's mine." He paused, "Oh, you play xbox?" All shocked and whatnot.

Also, my boyfriend is forcing his opinion in here as well. He says that if I ever beat him on a game that he thoroughly enjoys and prides himself in being good at that he's gonna pick me up and drag me off to maul me in private no matter who we are with at the time ><;;; because of the fact that he would find it so incredibly 'hot'.

I played some online RG games, other then that I'm unaware of these issues. None of the RG games were exclusive to either gender.

I used to be addicted to MapleStory. I recall this day where I was helping a newbie get meso, equipment and explaining the game, when he asked: "Are you a girl?" He didn't seem to believe it when I told him I was, even though I had a female character and was being friendly [<<another stereotype xD]

Also, I remember my guildies being amazed that one of our pros, after sharing her myspace, was very beautiful. That proved to them not all gamer chicks are ugly-looking XD

Another experience, I played Guitar Hero WT, and got a 100% on the song Satch Boogie. That left the four guys who came for my birthday [which, btw, were uninvited] shocked that I was so skilled e__e Seriously, for someone who knows how to play the flute and is learning piano, to fail at that game...

Omg, major endgame drama that one of my (male!) friends equated to domestic violence, lol. Plus, a bonus of men posing as women secretly and getting me in the middle of all that. No, nothing is ever normal with me.(It's okay though, who wants life to be dull?) I'll try and put it into something coherent for tomorrow morning. I'm old and need to write important things out on paper first or I feel they don't make any sense.

Are you a gamer? Or know someone who is?

I'm a female gamer; I'll try any game once and keep playing if I like it. I mostly like puzzle and strategy games followed by RPGs and fighting games, but everything else is okay. By the way, I never thought of Final Fantasy as a girly game. I always thought it was androgynous.

What do you think of female gamers/gamer in general?

I think we rule BIG time okay? For those of us minding the children in a house all day (which is irritating and boring at the same time), what else are we going to do to relax while the baby naps but play video/computer games? Seriously. Every time my niece is out like a lamp I hop on the computer or the console and play 'til my thumbs are sore or my niece wakes up.

Have you every experienced/caused some of the things I've explained above?

No. I suspect it's my age and generation that protects me from idiots. My generation seems to be very lenient and easy-going as well as socially educated.

Other things females are apparently oblivious to or are expected to do/know

I don't know about anyone else, but I make it a mission to know a little about anything and everything.

Though I do have to say that I fit the "fat and ugly girl gamer" stereotype.

@ Keary Lumiere - Im sure you've had to ask for help in a store at least once ;) everyone does lol, but i have dealt with people who give off such vibes :P Maybe your just lucky that the sales people don't try make small talk with you (i hate doing small talk >.>: )
Xbox's customer service is very lowsy xP They are in india (well the line we call to is, im not sure if everyone gets the same place) so it doesn't supprise me he asked if the xbox was yours, i got the same questions when i did a call for a customer, shocked that a girl works with games :roll:
BTW, was it red rings of death or just some random xbox stuff up? Sounds like the 3/4 ring, pain in the ass it is lol.
HAH xD Your boyfriend sounds cool, he's probably thanking his lucky stars he is with you :yes:

@ Claudia - Online games dont' seem as affected as console games *watched brother play some this morning* its rather strange O.o I think its because your never sure of who the person is on the other end, so you just assume from their character

BOO i have to leave class so i can't finish my replies T_T;

I play a few games, unfortunatly the Xbox is pretty much outdated and ancient now. :sweat: And my friends' mother is pretty into games too, but I haven't gotten to talk to her about what she likes yet.

Female gamers are fine I think, though probably a little smarter than half male players. ;) I think they just have more common sense, and ot helps solve problems in the game more efficiently, or perhaps I'm just looking for a way to get back at sexist males in general. Heh...whatever...

Can't say I've caused any problems like that. When I walk into a store, I don't ask or accept help anyways. I'm a little too stubborn and certain to take help from anyone, no matter what kind of store I walk into. I've seen some sexist things happen/heard them said, but I haven't ever really been directly the person insulted. Not yet...if ever I do though, I'll rip heads. It's just that bad of a red-head temper. :sarcasm:

I go to a GAME SCHOOL.
The sexism here is some of the worst I've seen.

@ tre le coco: Not at a game store XD If I'm shopping for games I know what I want and get it and go XP And the guy I had from Xbox sounded 'white' enough XD just very sick so he was coughing and huffing the entire time. And I had the whole 3/4 ring thing, secondary code 0013. RAM problem. You should see my boyfriend when he plays games with me. Very good at FPS and RTS games, his forte, and generally he is very serious and gets all pissed like many guys do, but when he plays with me he turns into a giddy little girl cause he just likes being able to play games with me XD

:3

No, I'm not a gamer... I suck at all computer and video games! D:
I'm only good at board games... but all my friends are hardcore video gamers so they make fun of me a lot about it... My good female friend is the best gamer I know! She kicks all the guys butts, including mine tenfold. I think girls can be just as good as guys at video games... Manliness really has nothing to do with it.

I noticed something the other day though at a rave... NO FEMALE DJs! Wtf?
Come on girls! Step it up and start ripping and spinning some awesome music! I'm tired of guys acting like they own the music scene. FUCK THAT. I'm not a DJ cuz I'm tone deaf... I just like to dance. I can't make music at all. ><

Thothie, I would gladly do mixes and learn about DJ'ing, but unfortunately the only DJ I know is my uncle, and he stole my hard disk and mothercard from my comp, and finally dissappeared. Jackass ;__;

About other things girls "can't do": Repair a car, repair a computer, play soccer, choose the best game evuh!1!, breakdance, lift a heavy box, play the guitar/drums/bass, etc etc etc~

Wow, what a mean uncle! D: Thats horrible, kah.
I bet you could be a million times better at DJing than he ever could be!

Believe it or not, I know this girl (met her at a rave) and she can breakdance like no one I've ever met before... Its amazing when you see a girl lift her entire body up with one hand and than spin herself down to the ground and do a backflip. She's amazing!
I know a few girls that play guitar. They're pretty good too.
Hmmm, I don't know that many girls interested in auto mechanics though...
I just get sooo annoyed with how some girls and boys assume they have to listen to the media and follow their gender roles! Nooo. Please everyone stop following gender roles. >< Lets all be crazy and do something crazy together! If people stop following stereotypes I'll literally come to school in a dress! I swear!

I would love it if both boys and girls used the same uniform in my school. I friggin' hate to use a skirt every monday and friday. It could be worse though, I've heard some other schools make girls use skirts the whole week Dx

Right now I'm trying to loose weight so I can start learning jumpstyle~ @[email protected] <3

I'm a gamer (not hardcore though cause I lack fundage and time)
A girl/guy can do anything they want to. I know this girl, friend of mine, who really rocks hard on the bass

OOOOHHH I love your post! I am a female gamer and I do find some of those things you are talking about but I find them as a customer. I often go into gaming stores on my own and yes if there is a female salesperson you better believe I am going to go to her first for advice on the latest and greatest that I am into. I have been gaming since the old days of atari and I do often find that the guy gamers in the stores often don't expect me to know (excuse me) my shit. I also get funny looks when I say I owe my husband to Diablo II.

On a separate but similar note, I also find that I prefer female doctors. I often feel like male doctors don't listen to me. I work in the medical field in a "related service" and know enough to know when I am being patronized. Who knows, maybe women's lib has not come as far as we'd like.

Maybe its just the guys that I hang out with, but I've been able to use my gamer girl status to my advantage.
Guys are usually impressed that I can have a solid conversation about MMOs and RPGs.
I don't know as much about games as they do (simply because I haven't had as much experience in recent years), but my willingness to learn with out submitting to inflated male ego is well championed among the guy gamer community in my area.
When I was dating one among them, many of them jealously complained that they wished their girlfriends were more accepting of their hobby or wished they'd join them.

However, I have been neglected for video games before. That same boyfriend thought that as a girl gamer I should understand. Just because I like games, doesn't mean I require less maintenance than a non-gamer girlfriend !

Also, when I go into a game store, I go to the nearest rep regardless of sex and I ask my questions immediately. I don't give most salesmen the time to think "oh you're a chick and you're asking for a video game ?" I'm also the kind of person that comes into a store announcing my intent shamelessly. "I wish I could find that game ! I'm so sick of first person shooters with no personality or useless redundancy. Give me something with a balance of graphics, story, and replay value." lol

ur definatly a funky chick, i would love to meet a gilr like u, i prefere it wen girl likes those gaming and that kinda things, makes a guys life so much easier lol

Just another case of social iinequality. There will always be the 'guys sport' and the 'female sport' but in all reality. No one with a maturity level above 14 years old cares. Regardless of their reading level.

I am a gamer! XD Not an extreme though, I do like to play a few shooting games from time to time. The simple fact is, women are considered less superior, from driving cars to even playing video games. That guy who gets mad at you, just flat out tell him that your a girl and it shouldn't change anything, etc. My cousins are definitely the gaming AND clueless type, its quite annoying D: And my oldest cousin assumes that when we laugh at something that its because we don't understand, then he goes on this whole discussion and explanation.

when it comes down to it, men are sooo sensitive!! there are alot of things that we can do equally but men try to make it so that it seems like they are the better sex at things like games, car repairs..etc etc etc, i'm better at some games then my boyfriend and he's better then me at others... its no big deal :sarcasm: