Why call yourselves Girl Gamers, Aren’t we all just Gamers

So I got asked this question on a forum today, and thought I’d post my answer here for quick reference - this is just a forum post, so no great writing to be found here.

That’s a great question, I really love answering it but you’ll have to forgive me because a large part of my answer to this question is to pose another question to you.

Why all the hate when a girl says we’re a girl gamer? Why can’t we say that about ourselves if we want to? Specific terms like this apply when it’s not the norm - as most gamers are assumed to be male by stating that you’re a ‘female gamer’ you’re just clarifying something. It shouldn’t get you any haters, or people questioning you, and hell realistically you should be able to call yourself whatever the hell you want to without getting any backlash.

if I was writing a bio about myself and I said something like ‘hi guys, my name’s hope, I’m a 22 year old female journalist’

does that raise an eyebrow? Oh why are you a female journalist, aren’t we all just journalists?

It’s a title, that gives more information about myself - and that’s all girl gamer started out to be and in many cases still is. It does get warn as a badge of honour now days because girl gamers are uncommon but also because we cop all this shit and there’s is pride to stand up and say you are this thing that so many seem to hate.

It’s like any other oppressed group stance of pride. I am black, I am gay, I am the 99%, I am woman

The reason I love that you asked this question is because it’s such an ignorant question to ask - I don’t mean ignorance in a bad way at all here. I mean it does state how in a way it should be, and yes of course we are all gamers and we should all get along, and our gender shouldn’t matter. However it does, we are crucified for it every other time someone realises what we are and now, we’re even judged just for saying it.