So, you're a female gamer/female who wants to start gaming?
Firstly, you must know that one big obstacle that you must overcome to enjoy playing your game to the fullest: male chauvinism.
Maybe it may not bother you as much as it does me, but here are some tips to avoid being singled out to be teased and slandered and insulted: "Aiya girl la, no wonder so noob. Nvm give chance la hohoho."
1. Change your username
If you don't like to draw attention to the fact that you're a female, don't create a girly username. Simple as that. If people see something like 'kawaiixxgurlz' then you're digging your own grave. There are some guys who are horny, desperate and alone. A username like that is like trash to a housefly; inevitably, they will be all over you in a second. "Oo lenglui can I have your number?" And if you refuse to entertain them then lose to them, be prepared to be called all sorts of sexist slurs.
2. Get rid of the 'I'm a girl! I'm a girl!' aura
Typing things like <3 and ^^ regularly will give you away as a girl...no joke, I've tried it before. *sarcasm* So if you're trying to keep a low profile, steer away from typically female typing conventions. Also, if you're playing a game that uses a mic regularly such as L4D2 or even DotA, DON'T. USE. IT.
Once a guy hears a girl's voice, two things are likely to happen. The first is not so bad: hearing your sweet, vulnerable voice may push his protective hormones into overdrive and they spend the whole bloody game trying to babysit you...which can be nice at times, but will be bad for your skills in the long run cause you'll come to expect to have your back fully covered at all times, and hence, never improve.
Also, after the game, they will probably try and get your number/facebook (if they haven't already.) For girls looking for a boyfriend, sure, that guy may be your match made in heaven. However, I already have a boyfriend so that's worth nothing to me.
The second consequence is considerably worse. The more blatantly sexist ones will start harassing you for being a girl gamer and calling you a noob just to piss you off and they WILL point every single bloody mistake you make.
If you STILL treat them nicely after all that assholish behaviour, they might let up a bit but still be insufferably condescending. If you take the nasty route and tell them to STFU, they'll go berzerk and call you a noobfuck bitchslut...and also throw the ultimate insult in your face: 'go back and play AI la!' Whether you're skilled or not, this doesn't matter. They'll just wait for the tiniest slip-up that you make and use it to taunt you for the rest of your gaming life.
Oh, and there's another possible consequence of squealing into the mic: they mistake you for an 8-year-old boy. I've learned from experience that caucasians in particular are prone to hating on little boys playing 'big boys' games.' Oh well. Told ya to type, it's your funeral now.
3. Practice, practice, practice
If you ever want guys to treat you seriously as a gamer, BE serious about it. Train and level up your skillzz. I used to complain and rant and rage about guys often treating me like a total bimbo and noob, now I figured out that it's probably because I acted like one. Now I don't take games as seriously anymore, so I don't really find it a sore point when guys chuckle at my mistakes. However, if you want respect as a gamer, you have to earn it. I know it's annoying when people call you a noob JUST because you're a girl, but those people are idiots (the species which has the biggest population on earth,) so just ignore them as much as you can. But if you REALLY are a noob and people call you a noob, you can't say you don't deserve the title. Just chill out and train up! Don't make excuses.
4. "Go easy on me, I'm a girl..."
Psh. If you say this then YOU set yourself up for unfair treatment. Sure it's sweet when you finally beat them and say "HAHA you lost to a girl teehee ;p" but don't throw a fit when guys make sexist remarks cause you do it to yourself too.
5. Be a gracious loser
If you lose, don't blame guys for bullying you. Sure, it may be horribly discouraging at first. Yes, maybe some of them set out to humiliate you from the get-go, but take that as a learning opportunity and use it as motivation to improve yourself. If you cry and whine about it, it doesn't benefit you. If you strive harder to improve, maybe one day you can be pro enough to kick those sexists bastards' asses and inhale the unmistakable smell of sweet revenge. (FYI it smells like rage, tears and toasted ego.)
***
That said, while I think that girls always deserve a basic level of respect from guys when it comes to being a female gamer, if we want to be respected as a GOOD player, we have to earn it.
I've been gaming online for 5 years now and I've seen my fair share of horribly ignorant and sexist guys. I've been put down, ridiculed and have been called a whore when I refused to give a guy my number. It happens. Shit happens, natural disasters happens, sexism happens. However, that shouldn't discourage you from gaming.
The key is to match your expectations with your level of dedication to the game. If you're a noob, so be it. Don't get angry when people tease you about it. If you want to be a pro, work hard and earn the title. People can tease you for being ugly or flat-chested or just having a vagina, but they can't deny skill. (Well, they can but others will be immediately informed of their blatant sexism.)
You may say 'OH but you don't follow your own rules, Steph!' and that is true, because I don't expect to be treated like a serious gamer...because I'm not. My username is snowbunnie (which is about as female as it gets) and I sometimes scream into the mic when I get strangled by a smoker in L4D2. Guys tease me about it. "Oh your voice is cute" and "oh it's a girl, go easy" and "go make me a sammich bitch."
But I don't mind anymore because realistically, I don't take games seriously, so why should guys take me seriously as a gamer? Okay, the 'get your ass to the kitchen and make me a sammich' comment was purely sexist and uncalled for, but otherwise, woman up and pay your dues! (Also, it's SANDWICH, ugh. Why do people deliberately misspell things? And seriously, could they be less original?)
If you can't take the sexism, get out. Get out of the gaming world now, because there's gonna be lots of it. Don't say you weren't warned. The best way to defeat sexism is to pawn the hell out of those bitchezzz.
I got ganged up against once in Blitzone by a team of guys who were calling me out on being a noob girl (har har so original) and they went up against me 3v1 in CS and I beat them flawlessly. 4 rounds and they left. 12-0. You can't argue with that score in a cyber cafe (no h4x!) I'm not saying that I'm pro, I'm just pointing out that often, the naysayers are noobs themselves trying to pick on an easy target. Don't let them take control of your emotions and make you a victim. Show them that you're better than them and they'll STFU and go away ;)
<3 bunnie
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