One of the few general sessions I was able to attend at last week's GDC focused on the lack of women in games, both on the player and the creator sides of the equation. As the panelists were speaking about this wretched state of affairs, a silent slide deck ran behind them. The deck was created by Merrilea Mayo (one of the panelists) and Julie Becker, both of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, and offers their analysis of the problem along with their tongue-in-cheek prescription for fixing it.
My solution is a bit more pragmatic. Focus on the part of the industry where there is a huge gap to fill: serious games.
What is the gap? There are not nearly enough learning designers involved in the creation of serious games (for the umpteenth time).
But there are many, many female learning designers, an unquantifiable subset of whom are interested in games and game technologies. By drawing on their learning design expertise while introducing them to game design and production, we are likely to see many benefits: new job opportunities; higher-quality games; and, a stronger industry all around.
So, go ahead. Start talking amongst yourselves. It's for (y)our own good.
I'm serious,
Anne
