A new study has revealed that two-thirds of women encounter misogyny
Misogyny refers to prejudice, hatred, or contempt directed towards women and girls, manifesting in various forms of discrimination and oppression. during online gaming, despite a slight improvement over the past year.
Bryter conducted a survey of around a thousand gamers in the UK and the US. The results showed that 65% of respondents experienced toxic behavior online in 2023. This is down from 72% in 2022, but the issue continues to be significant.
Journalist Miki Carroll tested the level of aggression in gaming communities through personal experience. She joined a Discord chat where she was immediately insulted due to her female avatar. A male player referred to her as a “dirty woman” and used several other offensive terms.
Jenny McBean, a researcher at Bryter, notes that harassment often starts with sexist comments but can escalate to threats of rape and physical violence. One in ten surveyed female gamers received rape threats.
Despite the improved situation, 20% of women refrain from online gaming altogether due to the fear of harassment.
Nineteen-year-old French esports player Mathilde describes the experience of being a woman in gaming as “scary.” She emphasizes that “one must be prepared to stand up to harassers.”
Stephanie Idjoma founded NNESAGA to promote diversity and inclusivity in the gaming industry. She highlights that Black women face the most harassment in this arena.
Representatives from Discord stated that the company takes immediate action when harassment reports are made.
Source: Eurogamer
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