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

No escape of racism/sexism

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.

Contents of this reply: