"The video-game industry has a dress code - driven by a lack of diversity"
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I'm int the U.S. and I've never seen a doctor wearing a suit at work.
inpHilltr8r
Member
Didn't see a single plaid shirt at the studio today (So Cal). Not sure where this stereotype is coming from.
I make it a point in every game job interview to ask them what people at their company typically wear, because it always leads to funny stories about people who showed up to work in pajamas, or with no shoes, or whatever other crazy thing. Seems to me like we just wear whatever we want. I haven't seen a single case of someone judging anyone else for their clothes.
Dressed-down casual is the mode in most creative and tech industries but you can wear what you want. I'm not sure it's any indication of patriarchy but more about breaking down the formality of work. The same reason they have beanbags and such in offices now. I still prefer to wear a collared shirt and suit pants most of the time just as any other adult is free to make their own dress decisions. I think the author is really reaching here.
I understand that. I truly do, but evidently, the public knows enough about game developers to think the typical developer looks something like this:
Now, obviously that's exaggerated. However, I'm just pointing out that the appearance of professionalism will go a long way in earning respect from the public. Which can then potentially be translated into better working condition/environment because the developers will be viewed as a hard working professional instead of a man child messing around with his hobby. It's about appearance purely.
Suzushiiro
Banned
Tech is a weird industry when it comes to dress code- in most industries, being in a job where you have to dress formally is a sign that you've made it, because in most companies the people wearing dress shirts and ties are making more money than the people who aren't. In tech it's the other way around- having a job where you can wear whatever the fuck you want means you've made it, while jobs where you have an actual dress code are less desirable.
This is mostly because places where the engineers have no dress code are startups and video game companies and other cool places that make cool things and deal with cool technology and (more importantly) the engineers are the ones making the product being sold, and thus have enough power to be able to dictate their dress code. Meanwhile, tech jobs where you're wearing a suit and tie tend to be old companies, frequently in the financial sector (well, at least when you work in NYC,) where the main focus isn't really on what the engineers are doing, so they have to go along with the dress code set by the non-engineers.
Office Space also probably has more to do with it than one might think.
And of course, if this comic is correct, there might be a regional aspect to it as well:
This is mostly because places where the engineers have no dress code are startups and video game companies and other cool places that make cool things and deal with cool technology and (more importantly) the engineers are the ones making the product being sold, and thus have enough power to be able to dictate their dress code. Meanwhile, tech jobs where you're wearing a suit and tie tend to be old companies, frequently in the financial sector (well, at least when you work in NYC,) where the main focus isn't really on what the engineers are doing, so they have to go along with the dress code set by the non-engineers.
Office Space also probably has more to do with it than one might think.
And of course, if this comic is correct, there might be a regional aspect to it as well:
BudokaiMR2
Member
Meanwhile in Japan....
NipplesAndToes23
Member
Firstly, the journalist needs to fix those two spelling mistakes in there. Secondly, I wonder how old is this because there aren't any video game TV channels anymore. I see that it was posted today, but that part just got me.
I hate to see stereotypes backed up so often about us, but dammit we keep on playing into them. I definitely agree with her on that last sentence that the industry needs to diversify on a whole. With different genders and with more people of different backgrounds we can get games that are inspired from music, movie, and literary genres that are either never seen or rarely seen. I'm still waiting for a Hip-Hop RPG. If there's not a significant one by the time I have my studio I'll make the shit myself and that goes for all the other stuff I want to pull from as well.
As far as attire goes, I do sympathize with her on the front on some double standards when it comes to dressing for women. I bet they never told a male employee that he was dressing too sexy for a stream. I like that things can be casual, but on the other hand I would bust out a suit on occasion. The diversity thing plays at hand with dress as well. Blacks and Latinos have developed their own forms of casual fashion and thus it would look different compared to the examples given by her in the article. Diversity would all in all makes things a less boring place on all fronts.
I hate to see stereotypes backed up so often about us, but dammit we keep on playing into them. I definitely agree with her on that last sentence that the industry needs to diversify on a whole. With different genders and with more people of different backgrounds we can get games that are inspired from music, movie, and literary genres that are either never seen or rarely seen. I'm still waiting for a Hip-Hop RPG. If there's not a significant one by the time I have my studio I'll make the shit myself and that goes for all the other stuff I want to pull from as well.
As far as attire goes, I do sympathize with her on the front on some double standards when it comes to dressing for women. I bet they never told a male employee that he was dressing too sexy for a stream. I like that things can be casual, but on the other hand I would bust out a suit on occasion. The diversity thing plays at hand with dress as well. Blacks and Latinos have developed their own forms of casual fashion and thus it would look different compared to the examples given by her in the article. Diversity would all in all makes things a less boring place on all fronts.
FriedConsole
Banned
Yeah it is kind of weird that to be perceived as a "creative type" you have to wear a uniform.
are you fucking kidding me? that kind of change is only ever going to come from altering the internal culture and fuckery.
Lord_Balkan
Member
The thing is, in this field, all that people care about is your work. If someone does the job and does it well, it is all good. It is one of the least judgmental fields in that regard.
What would the industry gain with this? This isn't limited to games, but tech in general. It was a pretty big deal back in the 70s with Steve Jobs and Atari. They showed that you don't need to put on a suit to be successful or get some good work done. That debate-ably helped their image. It showed that its just a bunch of people that love what they do and have the technical, artistic and creative talent to do it. The image wasn't just 'a job' or even 'a career', it was passion.
I am all for diversity, I want to make it clear that I am not arguing about diversity in any regards. My comments just pertain to attire and enforcing dress codes in an industry that frankly doesn't need it or want it.
Even if the average game developer did look like that, so what?
Software engineering in general already can have really great working conditions (game dev is the one exception, but I've also worked at big companies like Intel) and importance of work ethic over appearance is one of the big reasons why.
ohh yes, it is very much like that
I'm not sure how I feel about this article. On the one hand, I can understand how she feels out of place in a sea of white guys with plad shirts with movie references. Being the only woman their definitely must feel out of place. But then again,she still is also a white woman her self. To be perfectly honest, she is a minority gender wise but still makes up the majority of the gaming industry being a white person. I'm all for diversity, but I'd be interested to hear the experiences of those in the gaming industry who are not white speak about diversity and social awkwardness.
It's not. Obviously it's not because of what a person wears, but the culture of conformity is certainly present (as in most places). I've felt it at every place I've worked. It's got nothing to do with gender though, it's just stagnant conservatism.
User doesn't want to use moron because of its baggage but is ok with idiot. I point out that it shares the same baggage. Bonus: I never said that said user couldn't use it, just pointing at the hypocrisy. Now you come in missing the whole point of the discussion and on top of that calling me an aggressive ass. And yeah, I still wouldn't call you an idiot nor any other user here. If you still want to continue with this I suggest you send me an PN.
Dunno how it's in the west nowadays but from what I saw at GDC it seemed like some people had plaid shirts, some people t-shirts and some people dressing shirts or even full suits. It wasn't a sea of plaid shirts, but then again GDC has a lot of people from different countries with different fashion styles.
Here in Japan the amount of jeans is very high but even then there's some people on suits, or chino pants or even cargo, dressing shirts, t-shirts (like me), polos, etc...
I dunno, this seems like reaching a bit...?
Here in Japan the amount of jeans is very high but even then there's some people on suits, or chino pants or even cargo, dressing shirts, t-shirts (like me), polos, etc...
I dunno, this seems like reaching a bit...?
Mango The Magician
Banned
At first I thought you were talking about game characters and I was really confused. Either way, I've never noticed an issue, but I guess I don't pay attention.
CassidyIzABeast
Member
Looks like somebody forgot to turn their swag on this morning.
MWS Natural
Member
Oh god...not sure if I want to go to E3 now.
The video game industry is dominated by men because, WAIT FOR IT, boys and young men overwhelmingly prefer to play video games.
I know that has changed over time and more women and young girls are playing video games, especially due to the advent of smartphone games. However, I don't think it would be a stretch to say the gaming population at large is 80/20 in favor of men, and probably 95/5 when you think of hardcore gamers, which the writer of this article would be affiliated with given the description of her company and position.
I totally agree that you don't want to create a "hostile" attitude or work environment for women in the industry, however, I simply don't get the "whoa is me, there aren't many women in video games" blathering. There aren't more women in video games NOT because of lack of inclusion, but because most (not all) don't like video games, or certainly enough to want to read about them in forums, subscribe to YouTube gaming channels, Twitch, etc. I really think it's that simple.
I know that has changed over time and more women and young girls are playing video games, especially due to the advent of smartphone games. However, I don't think it would be a stretch to say the gaming population at large is 80/20 in favor of men, and probably 95/5 when you think of hardcore gamers, which the writer of this article would be affiliated with given the description of her company and position.
I totally agree that you don't want to create a "hostile" attitude or work environment for women in the industry, however, I simply don't get the "whoa is me, there aren't many women in video games" blathering. There aren't more women in video games NOT because of lack of inclusion, but because most (not all) don't like video games, or certainly enough to want to read about them in forums, subscribe to YouTube gaming channels, Twitch, etc. I really think it's that simple.