Inequity and Diversity in the Game Dev Sector

Thumpah writes "J, the Damned Vulpine, has just posted a report on the inequality panel from the latest meeting of the Austin Game Developers group. The panel consisted of Sheri Graner Ray of Sony Online Entertainment's Austin studio, Ellen Hobbs of Amaze, Chris Smith of Lois Earl Entertainment, Denise Fulton of Midway Austin, Matt Crump of Amaze, Suzanne Freyjadis-Chuberka of the Women's Game Conference, and Susan O'Conner (a freelance game author) to moderate the panel. He ties the discussion in with the recent IDGA Game Developer Demographics Report."

Comments

This is getting tired.

[Xarius]

Why isn't there a cryout for more female plumbers? Or more male nursery school teachers? Or more elderly marketing directors? Or more Asian architects?

Men and women are not equal. It's a simple fact, and men gravitate to certain jobs, and women gravitate to others. This is not simply because of social pressures or history, it's because of fundamental differences in both mental and physical aspects between men and women. Sure, there are exceptions as with any 'rule'.

You'll find plenty of jobs suited to both genders, like sales positions, or teaching jobs, or bank managers. Then you'll find jobs suited more to one gender like programmers, welders, nurses or midwifes (do we have a P.C. term for that yet?).

As for 'women feel excluded in programming environments', it's bullshit. Geeky types are all socially inept usually, women included. Most geeks are not forward enough to make a woman feel uncomfortable in the workplace.

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