WHAT IS WOMEN IN GAMES, AND WHY DO WE NEED IT…?
Despite current challenges, the games industry remains one of the most exciting and innovative sectors in the world, and provides great career opportunities for hundreds of thousands of individuals. Yet the issue of gender inequality remains. The latest GDC State of the Game Industry has revealed that
women now make up 25 per cent of the workforce – a slight uptick compared to last year. But when women and girls make up half the world’s population, as well as half of the industry’s consumer base, the sector is clearly still very much lacking when it comes to representation.
Women in Games is a not-for-profit organisation which aims to tackle this issue and more. But what exactly does it do, why is it important and what are its key goals? In the first of a series of articles, the organisation’s CEO Dr Marie-Claire Isaaman provides the answers…
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t’s 21 years since the very first Women in Games Conference took place in the UK – an event which eventually led to the formation of the organisation we see today. Sadly, two decades on, we are
still seeing the same problems facing women in games – equity of opportunity, representation, and harassment and toxicity towards women and girls in the workplace and in online games spaces. In a nutshell, this is why Women in Games exists – to tackle these problems, which are simply not going away. However, although most industry insiders are very aware of the issues, we are often asked what Women in Games is, and what exactly it is that we do, so here’s an overview…
WHAT IS WOMEN IN GAMES? In a nutshell, we are a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to achieving gender equality and equity in the global gaming ecosystem. Through a combination of advocacy, research, community-building, and industry partnerships, WIG works to dismantle barriers that have traditionally excluded women and gender-diverse individuals from fully participating in gaming and esports. We operate on multiple fronts, encompassing industry, education,
policy, community, and culture as our key spheres of action. By hosting events, creating educational programmes, offering consultancy services, and championing diverse representation, Women in Games has become an important support hub when it comes to women and their progress in the industry.
30 | MCV/DEVELOP February/March 2025
WHY WOMEN IN GAMES MATTERS Despite making up nearly 50% of the world’s gaming audience, women and gender-diverse individuals remain under-represented in game development and, particularly, in leadership positions. Women in Games exists to challenge the industry’s gender gap, working towards a future where all genders have equal access, opportunities, and recognition. And the impact of inequality in gaming is multi-faceted, affecting
not just career prospects but also the broader culture within gaming spaces. Issues such as workplace discrimination, online harassment, and lack of role models sadly deter many talented women from pursuing careers in the sector. Our role, and our passion, at Women in Games is to address these issues through concrete initiatives, industry collaboration, and grassroots community support.
OUR CORE GOALS AND MISSIONS At a topline level, Women in Games has clearly defined objectives that guide our work. These include: Aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals: Women in Games is deeply aligned with Goal 5 of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals: ‘Achieve gender equality and empower all girls and women.’ Our work also touches on some of the UN’s other Goals, namely Quality Education (Goal 4), Reduced Inequalities (Goal 10), and Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions (Goal 16). Advocacy and Awareness: Women in Games and our community actively challenge harmful stereotypes and biases within the games industry. Through communication, campaigns, research, and events, we hope to raise awareness about gender inequality, in particular to help industry leaders recognise the value of inclusion. Community Building and Safety: A key focus of Women in Games is creating safe, inclusive, and diverse gaming communities. Our Ambassador Programmes (see elsewhere), our events and our closed Discord channel all provide an opportunity for women and allies to
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