Occasionally I’ll cover something on GAMEBREAKER related to the whole “gamer girl” thing.  I’m not really sure what to call it — “trend”, “culture”, whatever — but I have written about it here and there.

I’m not opposed to covering material related to this because I like covering almost anything related to geek and gamer culture and society.  As a general rule, I’m pretty fond of the gaming community. Although, I may be a bit partial.

I do have to say, though, that I’m typically put off by the “gamer girl” or “geek girl” mindset.  Not because I don’t want girls to get credit where it’s due, but because I think it’s a pretty backwards way of thinking.  You see, somewhere along the line the idea came about that because girls may be a minority in gaming or geek oriented activities — I feel like that’s changed so much. — that we have to push the fact that we are girls in those spaces.

In other words, don’t give us credit for being good gamers. Give us credit for being girls who are good gamers.

There’s a whole lot of “I’m woman, hear me roar.” or “Look at me. I’m beautiful and play video games.”  Although there is the other end of the spectrum the “True gamer/geek girl.” movement where various female gamers post pictures and comics or blogs talking about how a real gamer girl is a greasy slob who hasn’t seen a shower in a few days and picks the crumbs of cookies out of her bra.

Seriously, is this an actual thing?

Either way, each of these do the same thing in the end; attempt to validate a girl’s status as a gamer and give them a reason to pat themselves on the back for being a minority within a hobby.  Of course, this validation comes at the expense of other females in the gamer space who the girl talking at the time doesn’t consider to be a “real” gamer and does little to nothing to say: “Hey. I’m a gamer and I can compete as a gamer.”

Rather the “gamer girl” tag adds says: Yeah, I’m a gamer, but I have to point out the state of my gender to make what I do seem more impressive.

Ladies… Seriously, think about this for just one minute.  You have to point out that you’re a girl to make your accomplishments seem like more of an accomplishment?  What exactly are you trying to say here?

Now, what I’m saying here is not that I think you shouldn’t talk about your gender. It is kind of part of who you are — and well, people will find out when you say something on Vent for the first time.  But I do think it should be made less important when talking about your hobby.

I mean… does your uterus have anything to do with whether or not you can land a head shot or help take down the final boss in a raid?

And really — and lets be honest about this — do any of you think there is really any such thing as a “true” gamer girl?  Is there some rule book I haven’t seen that says a female who plays video games absolutely has to look and act a certain way?

Seriously, stop it.  Stop trying to undermine each other.  Stop the self-congratulatory BS.  Stop acting like gamer girls and just act like GAMERS.

And if you find you’re being harassed by male gamers because of your gender, stop playing with them and find a new group.  There are PLENTY of male gamers who don’t care that you’re a girl just so long as you have enough sense not to stand in the green stuff.