"Accidental Sexism In Game Design • Speaker: Liana Kerzner • [email protected] @redlianak • Mosaic Feminist Video Game Analyst, Award-WinningProducer, Writer, Book Editor and Documentarian • As seen on CBC, SPACE, CityTV, Muchmusic, TorontoStar, National Post, The Escapist, Polygon and more • Created A Gamers Guide To Feminism YouTube Series • Upcoming Kickstarter Funded Series Lady Bitsfunded in just six days!Theories Used • NOT using Male Gaze theory – games are not viewed. Games are played. • Judith Butlers Gender Performativity theory works muchbetter for games – games have strong elements ofperformance so this works much better. Gender and gameplay areboth systems.They aredynamic.Its genderINTERACTIVITYIMPORTANT! • GAMES DO NOT MAKE YOU SEXIST • GAMES DO NOT MAKE YOU VIOLENT • VIDEO GAME ADDICTION IS NOT PROVEN (Listed inDSM-5 as Condition For Further Study, meaning it is notan official disorder.) • Gaming also shows many POSITIVE cognitive effects.ARE YOU SEXIST? • Informing bias is much more important than judging morality. • Perception is not reality. • Taking the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory questionnaire is agood place to start. • Results are a learning tool, not a judgment. • Note: Sexism against men is possible individually, less sosystematically.Two Types of Sexism • Hostile Sexism: negative attitudes toward women – eg.View of women as complainers and antagonists, toleranceof sexual harassment and spousal abuse • Benevolent Sexism: Knight in Shining Armour attitudethat can turn ugly when women step out of traditionalgender roles.James The Google Guy Damore • In a leaked internal document that was a response to a diversityworkshop, Damore played devils advocate regarding thebiological components of women having different intereststhan men. • The document did not examine aptitudes – despite what youmay have seen on the news -- and was not written for publicconsumption • Damore was fired over the phone in the wake of the post-leakmedia controversy.What Are The Facts of Biology AndGender? • The science Damore cited is legit, but it only tells a part of the story. • One in four people is not biologically sex-typical. • Most researchers studying these questions assume that biology,childhood socialization, and current context interact in complexways, and most psychologists know that pointing to a biologicalcontribution (such as a genetic or hormonal influence) does not meanthat an effect is hard wired, unmalleable, or immune to contextualvariables – Heterodox Academy • Biological gender does not determine interests with certainty.Accidental Sexism In Game Design • Understand that sexism often comes fromsystems, not intents • Learn to identify potential design situationswhere sexism can happen • Get techniques to avoid unintended genderedclichés, translate your intent, and create higherquality gamesBefore we begin... • Caution: this presentation contains some discussion ofsexual assault.Triggers may be present. • Spoiler Warning: the presentation contains detaileddiscussions of some games.Spoilers may be present soyou can learn stuff. • Because gender is treated as a performance, touching onissues related to trans community will be limitedSTEP 1: Forget Conventional Wisdom ? Theres no single strategy that will appeal towomen as a whole, because women areindividuals. Women who play games are not sex- typical."