Race and the Digital: Racial Formation and 21st Century Technologies

"Intersecting Oppressions and Online Communities" by Eduardo D. Garcia







Media Summary


Both of these articles touch upon on the #Gamergate controversy that occurred back in 2014. "What is Gamergate, and Why?: An Explainer for Non-Geeks" by Jay Hathaway looks at the #Gamergate in a negative way by calling the Gamegate movement, a tone-deaf rabble of angry obsessives with a misguided understanding of journalistic ethics. But there are a lot of reasons not to regard the movement generously." The second article titled "Understanding pro and anti-Gamergate," by Andrew Otton looks at both arguments from Gamergate supporters and detractors.

Reading Summary

Citation: Kishonna L. Gray (2012) INTERSECTING OPPRESSIONS AND ONLINE COMMUNITIES, Information, Communication & Society, 15:3, 411-428.

                In “Intersecting Oppressions and Online Communities: Examining the experience of women in XBOX Live,” Kishonna L. Gray looks at how women of color experience oppression in Xbox Live, which is an online community.



The Female Gamer Experience
The author begins by telling her experience as a Black woman playing video games and once they knew she was a woman, players started to berate her. Some of their insults were; “You’re a fucking girl! What the fuck are you doing in my room?” (Gray  412). Once they knew she was Black, the players started insulting her by saying racial insults. The insult deserves to be quoted in full to show the racial and misogynist tone, “Wait wait wait. You’re not just any girl. You’re black. Get this black bitch off my team… Did you spend all your welfare check before buying this game? … Get back to your crack pipe with our crack babies” (Gray 412).

Hegemony in video games
There have been hegemonic ideals in videogames. Gray gives an example of a type of character in EverQuest, an MMORPG, called the Erudites. They “were from a segregated continent that was smaller, less appealing and far less populated than the White continent” (Gray 413). However, when race and ethnicity is going to be brought on in a videogame, it is often met with resistance. Gray states that, “Blackness in MMORPG’s is intentionally ignored to avoid critical issues associated with the other” (Gray 414). Basically, when it comes to video games, race is being ignored.

Online Disinhibition fuels virtual inequality
In this section, Gray defines terms that are used to make the virtual world a bad place. Gray defines killer, who derives pleasure by imposing his/her self on other by player killing (Gray 414). Then there is flaming which refers to negative antisocial behaviors, including the expression of hostility, the use of profanity, and the venting of strong emotions (414). Gray also mentions that they are six factors that led to online disinhibition such as dissociative anonymity, invisibility, asychroncity, solipsistic introjections, dissociative imagination, and minimization of status and authority.

Linguistic profiling
Gray defines linguistic profiling when “auditory cues as opposed to visual cues are used to confirm and/or speculate on the racial background of an individual” (Gray 416). An example of this happening is when Gray’s team members heard her speaking and formulated that she was Black.

The Clans/Guilds
Gray interviewed twelve women, eight African-American and four Puerto Ricans (Gray 418). Some of these women created clans- “as seen in computer gaming and is a group of players who play together in online gaming” (418). They do this so they do not have to experience misogynistic and racial insults. Gray even states that, “clan membership is imperative to women in Xbox Live to ensure a positive gaming experience” (418). The Puerto Rican clan, The Puerto Reekan Killaz “created a space that is essentially free from racism, sexism, heterosexism, and nativism” (Gray 420). They, in essence, want to create a safe space. They are other clans like Militant Misses (MM) who would “rather play with males and endure racism, sexism, heterosexism, and other inequalities” (Gray 421). MM’s solution to end the inequalities is that they have to become better gamers. White female players do not even acknowledge that they are being oppressed or rub it off and call it the gaming experience.

Analysis

 The article shows how intersectionality plays a role in the virtual community. With Gray's anecdote in the beginning, it shows how male gamers treat female gamers in online communities. Her teammates not only insulted her because she was a woman, once they knew she was Black, they added in racist remarks. Another point in Gray's article that took the intersectional lens is how different women from different ethnic groups faced different types of discrimination. Gray states, "Specifically, Latina women within the space experience nativism, racism, and even heterosexism as many identify as sexual minorities. African-American women experience racialized sexism stemming from the duality of their ascribed identities" (Gray 411). When it comes to White female players, they do not even acknowledge or they think that foul-mouthing and insulting other people is part of the gaming experience (Gray 424).
Another aspect of the article is when Gray mentions that race is being ignored in MMORPGs, but in other video games, that is not the case. The upcoming 2016 game, Mafia 3  where the main character, Lincoln Clay, who is Black is going to experience racism.
So there is a strive where racism can be displayed in video games in a mature and realistic fashion. Finally, it was really empowering to see these female gamers of color created these networks to feel safe. It reminded me of what Reginald was talking about in his blog when he talked about Black goth subculture. When people hear the terms "video games" and/or "gamer" they think of males. When people think of "goths," a White person comes to mind. This whole idea of "only guys play video games" has to end.


Discussion Questions

1. If any of the class are gamers, have you experienced insults and racial slurs when it came to online gaming?

2. Are the creation of the clan/guild groups be consider a form of cyberfeminism?

3. Do you agree when Gray's assessment that, "clan membership is imperative to women in Xbox Live to ensure a positive gaming experience" (Gray 418).
 

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  1. I do not personally game, but I have to admit I was not at all shocked that women get insulted and "attacked" through the gaming chat system. It doesn't just happen to women, it also happens to men. I have heard my younger brother get insulted on gaming chat systems, but I do also have to admit that I suppose it wasn't as harsh as the insults towards the women within the article. I do think that the clans that they create online are a form of cyberfeminism. I think it's equivalent to any clans/groups of feminists that are made offline, except online it is a difficult to exactly know their true identity. The groups, online or offline, still practice the same beliefs/guidelines (for lack of a better word). Those beliefs/guidelines I believe are to stick together and boycott against any racial/sexist responses and actions towards women, especially women of color. I'm not sure I would go as far to say that the clans they create are imperative for a positive gaming experience, but I am sure that it does benefit the women within the clans. They are able to find other women they have similarities with, and they know if they play with just women they will not get insulted brutally as they would by men gamers. I am sure they still insult one another, but again it is perhaps not as racist/sexist as the comments that the men make to them.
  2. I do somewhat play video games. I mostly play Ds, Wii U, and some online games. And I have played CoD with my boyfriend. And let me say, i have experienced and been the target of racial and sexist insults. At times Ive been told that because Im a girl, I dont know what Im doing, that guys are easily able to beat me, that I should go back to doing my girly things (dolls, cooking, cleaning) and that as a Chicana this is too advanced for me and I shouldnt play games and go back to my country. When you're tagrted for being someone who doesn't place highly on the social hierarchy that is in place, its very disheartening and makes you feel bad for being who you are. I tell myself not to pay attention, but after a continuous atring of insults, you sometimes cant help but pay attention. Im kind of undecided if clans are a cyber feminist group. They can be considered empowering because it consists , in this case, women of color. These women are playing with someone that knows their struggles and won't bring down eachother. However, in Gray's article, women of color were exclusive and brought down the gamers who weren't as familiar or experienced. This is wrong because some women play recreationally and don't really care about being the best or keeping up with the boys. But if I had to lean more to one side, I believe they can be seen as cyber feminist.
  3. I do somewhat play video games. I mostly play Ds, Wii U, and some online games. And I have played CoD with my boyfriend. And let me say, i have experienced and been the target of racial and sexist insults. At times Ive been told that because Im a girl, I dont know what Im doing, that guys are easily able to beat me, that I should go back to doing my girly things (dolls, cooking, cleaning) and that as a Chicana this is too advanced for me and I shouldnt play games and go back to my country. When you're tagrted for being someone who doesn't place highly on the social hierarchy that is in place, its very disheartening and makes you feel bad for being who you are. I tell myself not to pay attention, but after a continuous atring of insults, you sometimes cant help but pay attention. Im kind of undecided if clans are a cyber feminist group. They can be considered empowering because it consists , in this case, women of color. These women are playing with someone that knows their struggles and won't bring down eachother. However, in Gray's article, women of color were exclusive and brought down the gamers who weren't as familiar or experienced. This is wrong because some women play recreationally and don't really care about being the best or keeping up with the boys. But if I had to lean more to one side, I believe they can be seen as cyber feminist.
  4. Great ending to a great blog. I like your last statement where you said that the time where gamers are simply thought of as men has to end. I completely agree; it is fascinating that a person's traits are used to categorize them into cliques, per se, as seen in Reginald's point that being goth is synonymous with being a white person, and your point where you say that gamers are synonymous with being males. I do not feel equipped and suited to stand up for women gamers, and to extent women gamers of color, because I do not play video games where there are online communities (the only ones I play are the vintage kind - Pac-Man, Pole Position, Galaxian, Duck Hunt, Centipede - mostly Atari games that came out in the eighties). Nonetheless, as a Chicana who has experienced racism and sexism, (in science academic organizations like MESA) I feel that I can be an ally to help stop this. So in regards to your last question, perhaps since the topic of women/women of color gamers being discriminated in online networks like XBOX Live is barely receiving the opportunity to be brought to light, my opinion is that clan membership may ease the tension and racist and sexist experiences women face on these gaming platforms. There is power in numbers, and when people join forces to confront a bully, changes may happen, for nothing will change if those affected do not do anything. I thought Gray used too strong of a word to describe joining forces; it is not imperative to do that, for women are able to play the video games regardless of being part of a clan. But, again as suggested before, the online world mirrors the offline world, so definitely, the clans mentioned in the article are a form of cyberfeminism. First women must support one another regardless of their skin complexion and their racial identity; once this happens and allies chime into the conversation to stop the injustice, then it is game over for these male chauvinists, and game over for their disgusting behavior.
  5. I remember that I used to game before the whole online community took momentum. My first memory of interacting with a "cool" technological device (besides a computer) was my cousin's Nintendo 64, complete with the Mario Bros game and the game where you shoot flying plates/ducks. I then moved on to the Play Station where I would play Tony Hawk Pro Skater, Crash Bandicoot, and Spyro. Over time, and seeing my younger brother grow up from the Play Station 1 to the Xbox 360, I began to notice the formation of these online communities. I also saw him play online computer games like Gunz and Sherwood. I myself delved a bit into these games, playing online for a while and seeing the chat conversations become part of the gaming experience. I also joined my brother in multi-player online games with Halo and Call of Duty. In the short experience I had with the online games, I noticed that a new network, a new community with it's own sort of cultural norms/practices was being built. This makes me wonder on why people are even racist or biased at all... because as I write this, I think that online gaming is like a country and that like any and all countries there are biases and extremists present within its communities. So, I ask myself... why? Once again, I see how the physical world manifests itself, or rather reflects itself, onto the internet. Just as we have a long way to go in, for example, gender equality where there are discrepancies in the equal pay of persons who do the same job, the online gamer community has a lot of work to do in the same general category of gender equality. and many others.
  6. While I do not consider myself an avid gamer, back in high school I did play on Xbox Live so I do have some sense of familiarity with the platform. Now personally I never had any insults or racial slurs directed at me; although that was largely due to the fact that I rarely had my microphone plugged in to engage with the other gamers. That being said, however, hearing derogatory and insulting comments being directed at other gamers was not uncommon, especially towards female gamers. In her article, Gray mentions clan membership as a way for female gamers to curtail some of the racism and sexism found on Xbox Live and you pose and interesting question about whether or not these clans are a form on cyberfeminism. To an extent I do believe that these online clans are a form of cyberfeminism, but as we have read and seen time after time is the lack of racial unity among groups. As Ebony mentions in her comment, regardless of skin color, women need to work together and support each other. Unfortunately we do not always see this. As Gray mentioned in her article, the participants (female gamers that were studied) could not understand why White women would not want to join their gaming world as opposed to subjecting themselves to discrimination (424).
  7. I used to game back in high school but i never had xbox live. I sis however, witness my cousin's play online with other people. I did notice they would curse people online and often found it funny because the other person couldn't do anything about it. Sometimes they would deal with little kids which makes me think of the hostility from gamers online. It's evolved into a culture that is accepted by most online gamers but don't know why.
  8. I don't actually play online video games too much, but when I do it is a completely foreign world to me. it is very lively to say the least, but the majority of things you hear on the voice steams are mostly males throwing sexualized slurs around freely. I honestly haven been part of the online gaming community for that same reason, because the environment of online gaming has turned me away from it. Although I do see these cyber clans as a means of cyberfeminism, I think that this is not a way that may integrate women into the online gaming world. I think that clans such as these might initially serve a great purpose of including women in this online world. I think this might actually be damaging in the long run because the key differences between gender might actually serve to further splinter the already exclusively white male online gaming arena.

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