A moment that changed me – Gamergate | Brianna Wu

As a woman working in the male-dominated gaming industry, I realised that sexism is still rife. And it's not just the trolls who are to blame

The terrible one-year anniversary of Gamergate is nearly here, and the women that make your games are war-weary, exhausted by a cultural battle that we never asked for. We are professionals trying to do our job, screamed at by children who don't want girls in their clubhouse.

Elizabeth Sampat is one of these professionals. She's a game designer at PopCap, one of the most successful studios in the world. In the aftermath of Gamergate, she's struggling with an ethical dilemma. She's uncomfortable asking girls to enter the game industry, knowing the abuse they will inevitably face. "I will no longer participate in encouraging young women and girls to become game industry professionals," wrote Sampat in a popular Facebook post. "I will continue to fight tooth and nail for every woman who is currently here. But until the industry and gaming culture improves, it's unethical."

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