Creamsteak
Explorer
Other than those who are much older than me, the only types I've encountered are Goths. I've 'seen' other types, but none I can remember...
Girl Gamer Stereotypes...or lack thereof?
- Thread starter Djeta Thernadier
- Start date
Brother Shatterstone
Dark Moderator of PbP
Djeta, I can't help you on this as I've never played an RPG with a lady... or gamer girl, or what ever, your pick. 
I'm still in awe at the number of ladies on this board and if I did see a lady rolling dice for an RPG I would probably stare at her as if she had a 3rd eye... Gamer Girls are a myth and don't exist, just like unicorns.
I'm still in awe at the number of ladies on this board and if I did see a lady rolling dice for an RPG I would probably stare at her as if she had a 3rd eye... Gamer Girls are a myth and don't exist, just like unicorns.
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I would divide female gamers into two categories: (a) those who, even though they may enjoy the games, are involved primarily because their significant other is the GM or another player; and (b) all other female gamers.
If we leave aside category (a) for now, I would argue that amongst category (b), the groups over-represented amongst male gamers are over-represented amongst female gamers. Thus, a survey would probably find that the median weight is higher than that of mainstream society and similar professional, recreational and sartorial patterns would also be in evidence.
If we leave aside category (a) for now, I would argue that amongst category (b), the groups over-represented amongst male gamers are over-represented amongst female gamers. Thus, a survey would probably find that the median weight is higher than that of mainstream society and similar professional, recreational and sartorial patterns would also be in evidence.
Arcane Runes Press
First Post
I'd say one word describes the female gamer stereotype:
PLAIN
No makeup or perfume, minimal to no interest in jewelry and fashion, relatively quiet and socially awkward. A housemouse.
Not really all that different from the gamer guy actually, though the nerdiness is assumed to be less Comic Book Guy and more Lisa Simpson.
Does the stereotype hold true? Seen a lot of it, yes indeed. But I've seen plenty of girls who break the stereotype in one, or many ways.
Patrick Y.
PLAIN
No makeup or perfume, minimal to no interest in jewelry and fashion, relatively quiet and socially awkward. A housemouse.
Not really all that different from the gamer guy actually, though the nerdiness is assumed to be less Comic Book Guy and more Lisa Simpson.
Does the stereotype hold true? Seen a lot of it, yes indeed. But I've seen plenty of girls who break the stereotype in one, or many ways.
Patrick Y.
Bloodsparrow
First Post
From my experience, we're about as diverse as guy gamers...
At one end was this one woman who was so... Girly... That she had a small notebook that she always had with her. This notebook was a complete index of EVERY article of clothing and shade of makeup that she owned. With posty notes marking what she was planning to wear on what part of which day. I mean, this woman wasn't just girly for a Gamer Girl, she was The Queen of Girly. She wasn't particularly goth... Though she did try, but then, I knew her from a V:TM LARP, so I suppose she would. (My attempts at blending in with goths didn't turn out very gothy either.)
I've also met and gamed with everything down the spectrum to the exact opposite of that gal.
I'm not so sure about the whole "quiet" thing though...
From what I've seen, the part of the spectrum that covers the wife/girlfriend/sister/etc. who's just trying it out because of her husband/boyfriend/brother/etc. tend to be on the quiet side... There are lots of reasons for that. Usually, it involves various factors that all come down to the fact that she's not quite sure what's expected of her. A completely new social environment is a daunting thing... Almost like your very first day at a brand new school all over again. Once she hits her stride though, things are different.
In my experience (and I haven't really gamed outside of Southern CA so this could be some sort of odd regional thing) girls/ladies/women who game regularly actually tend to be rather brash. I think I'm the meekest "Gamer Girl" I know... And I a) know a lot of other Gamer Girls, and b) am not particularly meek at all.
That's funny. Because, every time I look at your Avatar, I think about how *I'd* give *my* left arm to look like you! (And I'm left handed...
)
I don't know about you Billy, but I'm a nonconformist...
Just like all my friends!
At one end was this one woman who was so... Girly... That she had a small notebook that she always had with her. This notebook was a complete index of EVERY article of clothing and shade of makeup that she owned. With posty notes marking what she was planning to wear on what part of which day. I mean, this woman wasn't just girly for a Gamer Girl, she was The Queen of Girly. She wasn't particularly goth... Though she did try, but then, I knew her from a V:TM LARP, so I suppose she would. (My attempts at blending in with goths didn't turn out very gothy either.)
I've also met and gamed with everything down the spectrum to the exact opposite of that gal.
I'm not so sure about the whole "quiet" thing though...
From what I've seen, the part of the spectrum that covers the wife/girlfriend/sister/etc. who's just trying it out because of her husband/boyfriend/brother/etc. tend to be on the quiet side... There are lots of reasons for that. Usually, it involves various factors that all come down to the fact that she's not quite sure what's expected of her. A completely new social environment is a daunting thing... Almost like your very first day at a brand new school all over again. Once she hits her stride though, things are different.
In my experience (and I haven't really gamed outside of Southern CA so this could be some sort of odd regional thing) girls/ladies/women who game regularly actually tend to be rather brash. I think I'm the meekest "Gamer Girl" I know... And I a) know a lot of other Gamer Girls, and b) am not particularly meek at all.
Djeta Thernadier said:
That's funny. Because, every time I look at your Avatar, I think about how *I'd* give *my* left arm to look like you! (And I'm left handed...
)Teflon Billy said:Like all the other iconoclasts out there
I don't know about you Billy, but I'm a nonconformist...
Just like all my friends!
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Djeta Thernadier said:
Why? If your whited-out photo (too much flash) is any indication, you're beautiful... and you might need that arm!
As for the second question, a group composed entirely of girls, of any description, would, indeed, be inordinately unusual... By my quick count, since circa 1980, I have gamed with roughly... eight women, total. In general, if there is ONE female present, it is unusual!
Maybe things are different, where you game.
The gamers I've met of both genders haven't really fitted into any stereotypes, definitely not the typical American comic store guy one. I think this is because the gamers I've met in recent years have been mostly initially via the Internet or at Gencon and not from a particular social circle. Apart from being above average intelligence; they vary widely in appearance, gender, ethnicitity, social class, demeanour et al. The women seem to vary at least as much as the men.
Kichwas
Half-breed
Seen something like this. A female gamer who did not like other women at the table, especially if they were more feminine even if they were less physically appealing. Game long enough and you find all types of people at the table.Djeta Thernadier said:
It's about as rare as finding 'pretty boys' at the table.Djeta Thernadier said:
My sister lives in a largely lesbian neighborhood as a straight single woman with a child. She takes a lot of heat, especially when she dares to dress up, date, or be friendly to men.Djeta Thernadier said:
She's a threat to their comfort zone.
I've seen unattractive women be very nasty to attractive women on a number of occaisions, also to attractive men. I presume it comes from feeling these people will scorn or reject them, so it's better to beat them to the punch. While such an attitude is no help in the long run and often misplaced, it is also not wholly unjustified.
Cedric
First Post
More so than Guy Gamer's, Girl Gamer's can usually be divided into groups more easiily in accordance with what games they play. I'm betting that most of the people here who mention the goth crowd of female gamers found those same gamers in and around, World of Darkness games or LARP's.
Especially about 5-6 years ago, Vampire, Changeling, Mage, heck even Werewolf and especially LARP's attractive female goth's.
The Goth's are the only female gamers I have ever considered to have clearly filled a stereotypical role. Young, usually attractive but dyed and painted black (no offense).
From among the other women I have gamed with (non-Goths), there are no easy stereotypes. I have gamed with maybe 20-30 non-Goth females over the years. More then anything else they have a tendency towards being unique individuals, which always earns someone a certain measure of respect in my book.
If forced though, I would break them down into two categories. Single and Not-Single...
Single - Young, attractive, intelligent, artistic, conscientious and expressive. They have a tendency to be much more easily offended than female gamers who are not single. More often than not they like the attention they receive as a female gamer, as long as no one lays it on too thick.
Not-Single - A bit older and more mature, attractive but seldom athletic (more Rubenesque), intelligent, artistic and eclectic. They rarely conform to the beliefs shared by most of society, which is often represented in their choice of religion and relationships (more often pagan, polyamorous, bisexual, etc). Have grown tired of the attention they receive as a female gamer from all except their closer friends and have little patience for younger male sycophants, but at the same time are not at all easily offended and can be very tolerant of idiots.
[Insert disclaimer here]
This is by no means intended to be offensive or all encompassing. This is just what I "believe" to have noticed as trends among the female gamers I have known.
Still, from my experience, I think it's fairly accurate.
YMMV
Cedric
Especially about 5-6 years ago, Vampire, Changeling, Mage, heck even Werewolf and especially LARP's attractive female goth's.
The Goth's are the only female gamers I have ever considered to have clearly filled a stereotypical role. Young, usually attractive but dyed and painted black (no offense).
From among the other women I have gamed with (non-Goths), there are no easy stereotypes. I have gamed with maybe 20-30 non-Goth females over the years. More then anything else they have a tendency towards being unique individuals, which always earns someone a certain measure of respect in my book.
If forced though, I would break them down into two categories. Single and Not-Single...
Single - Young, attractive, intelligent, artistic, conscientious and expressive. They have a tendency to be much more easily offended than female gamers who are not single. More often than not they like the attention they receive as a female gamer, as long as no one lays it on too thick.
Not-Single - A bit older and more mature, attractive but seldom athletic (more Rubenesque), intelligent, artistic and eclectic. They rarely conform to the beliefs shared by most of society, which is often represented in their choice of religion and relationships (more often pagan, polyamorous, bisexual, etc). Have grown tired of the attention they receive as a female gamer from all except their closer friends and have little patience for younger male sycophants, but at the same time are not at all easily offended and can be very tolerant of idiots.
[Insert disclaimer here]
This is by no means intended to be offensive or all encompassing. This is just what I "believe" to have noticed as trends among the female gamers I have known.
Still, from my experience, I think it's fairly accurate.
YMMV
Cedric
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