Ron Burgundy's Lady Gamers

I wasn’t going to write this blog. I really wasn’t, because I didn’t want to get listed as ‘the angry feminist gamer blogger’. Then I decided, ‘Screw it’. Someone has to say something.

It all started because a local gaming convention posted a picture on Facebook. On a table was a display of Bare Minerals make up samples saying they were so there was something for the ‘Lady Gamers’. I sat there, staring at my screen, wishing it were a mirage. Was this person deliberately channeling his inner Ron Burgundy or just being clueless? Did it matter?

"Hey Lady Gamers. Wanna see my dressing room? There are makeup samples."

I believe that this man was trying to reach out to the female gaming community at large. Call it a Charisma check or Fellowship check depending on what system you play. Whatever you call it, it was an epic fail.

Something similar happened with another local convention last year. They posted a ton of promotional pictures for their upcoming convention. Around 90% of the pictures had barely dressed female cosplayers. To make it that much more uncomfortable most were barely legal. A few pictures here and there I understand but making that the crux of your promotions does a few things that might not be intended. A majority of female gamers start feeling uncomfortable. When women choose to make themselves objects, that’s ok. It is their choice. By only showing them with no other content you invite all females in that event to be treated as the same. Again, 95% of gaming guys are great, and won’t see this as an invite, but it only takes that 5% of guys to start coloring the convention experience.  I know that promotional campaign made all in my group uncomfortable, including the men. Have some pictures of local cosplayers as part of your promotional campaign, but I would recommend maybe 5-10% while you focus on games available, local retailers who are helping support the con, etc.

"A gaming convention full of mostly naked lady gamers? I'm there!" 

If you want to have a convention that is open and inviting to female gamers as well as male gamers, there are just a few things to do.

1.       Post Zero Tolerance policies for discrimination on base of gender, race, or sexuality. Make it easy to repot. Pathfinder Society does this and some people have been removed from games for using hurtful words or being unwelcoming. I see tons of women in Pathfinder Society when I check in, and it is no coincidence.

2.       See us just as other gamers. I don’t like being singled out. This can go bad, quickly, just like saying you have the sports stations on for male gamers. I know some male gamers that love sports, but when they are at a convention, they are there to game. Just like that, I can get makeup samples at Sephora or Ulta. When I am at a convention, I am there to play.

3.       Offer childcare for everyone. I know fathers that love introducing their kids to gaming, too. At the very least a few games marked ‘all ages friendly’ or even a few dedicated tables would help everyone feel welcome.

The local game shops get these concepts quite well. I feel comfortable and welcome walking in. I am just another gamer there, free to play, buy, and have fun. I am not ‘a girl’ any more than Jason is a ‘boy’. However, our local conventions can take a few pages from our game stores, and take a lot fewer pages from Ron Burgundy.