/r/GirlGamers

I've always believed that my gender never prohibited me from playing video games. Growing up, I never really cared so much about having a support group or circle of friends who were also gamers and female, because I didn't know of any. Before the internet allowed for the ability to play games with others so freely, I had never met any other girls who played games. I thought perhaps I was different but I didn't care because I enjoyed games and it was part of who I was.



Fast-forward to now...



There are TONS of girls who play games.... and there always were, but now they are far more visible. Through social media and live streams, making yourself known as a gamer who happens to be female is easier than ever before. There are organizations and groups where you can "belong" and even be celebrated as a girl gamer. In some cases, as is with the PMS Clan, you feel like you are part of a sorority. You have sisters (and brothers) who watch out for you and encourage you to be more than your gender and more than some stereotype. I have made lifetime friends through such safe spaces on the internet.



Two days ago, my husband @totalbiscuit made a twitter post joking that our latest collaboration (a video on the game, HuniePop) might be posted on the /r/GirlGamers subreddit because they might enjoy seeing/hearing him get beaten up. I responded as follows : https://twitter.com/GennaBain/status/563149265606701057 Admittedly, I am not the biggest reddit user. I lurk often but seldom post unless I have something I feel is important enough to contribute. My husband told me that it was a pretty nice subreddit as you can see from my twitter discussion link and that they received the Dragon's Crown video from last year with open arms.



I was excited to see what they might say about our HuniePop video since the development team for the game is about 80% female if you include the VAs involved. Even if some of the content in HP is over the top, I was looking forward to seeing a good debate on the game. So I go over to /r/GirlGamers and sure enough there is a thread including a link to our video.



(thread has since has been deleted) http://www.reddit.com/r/GirlGamers/comments/2uy84w/totalbiscuit_genna_bain_play_huniepop/



"Why are posting a Gator playing a porn game here?"....



Wait... this can't be right? Can it? I leave for awhile thinking perhaps I had the wrong subreddit. A couple hours after, I saw another post.



(thread has since been deleted)

http://www.reddit.com/r/GirlGamers/comments/2uzcwp/tb_genna_play_huniepop/



From a moderator : "I've removed both posts. Sorry for not catching them more quickly!"



I'm a girl who plays games... and my content isn't welcome? I don't understand.



Is this honestly the same subreddit that held this discussion a year ago?

http://www.reddit.com/r/GirlGamers/comments/1jhsu5/dragons_crown_a_discussion_on_reviews_and_the/



What happened?



The /r/GirlGamers subreddit description :

"A delightfully polarizing term for women who game.

This is a forum for discussing women in geek culture and for women to relate experiences that occur as a result of their gender.

We're fighting the good fight against the phenomenon stated by the Greater Internet Fuckwad Theory, and developing a community of mutual respect, so we can all have a pretty sweet time.

Or you know, just post some bad ass makeup tutorials inspired by video games. We like that stuff here!"

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