Reasons Why: Examining the Experience of Women in Games 140 Characters at a Time

Abstract

Recent discourses around digital games and game cultures have revealed myriad challenges for female professionals in the game industry. One of these conversations began in late 2012 on the social networking platform Twitter when a user posed the question, “Why are there so few lady game creators?” Using the hashtag #1ReasonWhy, Twitter users from across the game industry and game-playing communities contributed to a discussion about what women experience in public and online game-playing spaces, at game industry events, in game industry workplaces, and in the media. This article examines the #1ReasonWhy conversation to uncover how members of the game industry and of game communities account for why so few women choose to pursue and stay in game industry careers. Better understanding, women’s experiences can aid researchers, educators, and game industry stakeholders in theorizing how to make meaningful and strategic improvements to game cultures and industry spaces.