– The Norwegian gaming community has been waiting for this. That is one of the feedback 18-year-old Maja “Masjan” Ruud has received. She has created a Discord server just for girls who play video games. In less than a month, the server “GamerGæls” approaches a thousand members. – It is quite sick, says Maja. New members are pouring in, despite the fact that fewer and fewer girls are gaming. A report from the Norwegian Media Authority shows that some girls quit because they experience harassment and harassment based on gender. Maja wants to do something about that. A haven The 18-year-old says that the aim of the server was to gather girls from all over Norway in one place. A place where you can talk together about everything and nothing – a sanctuary. And it’s clear that this is something girls who play have missed. – There are many girls from all over the country who have joined. I think they think it’s fun to get to know other girls who are gamers, considering that there are so few of us, says Maja. She also believes that it has a lot to say that the server is a “safe space”. – There is an extremely large amount of harassment and harassment online, so it may be that the girls just want a place where they are not harassed. Feeling safe One of those who has joined the server is 16-year-old Linnea Xu Klevset. She joined to find other girls who play, and to make new friends. But it is also a place where she can feel safe. Linnea herself has experienced being harassed when she plays, only because she is a girl. – I have received quite a few uncomfortable comments from boys. For example, they ask if I can send nudes or if they can try me on. She is happy that she has found a platform where she can talk to girls with the same interests as her. Linnea also praises the administration on the server for looking after everyone who joins. – I can be myself there. A separate server to avoid incitement should really have been unnecessary, says director of communications and advice at the Norwegian Media Authority Pernille Huseby. – But if this measure can enable more girls to experience a safe gaming environment where they can be themselves and experience mastery, it is a good measure. GOOD IDEA: Huseby thinks it’s a good idea to create a digital meeting place where girls can play together. Photo: Mathias Fossum / Norwegian Media Authority Huseby says that Norwegian Media Authority calls for a more inclusive game culture. An important measure for this is to create arenas where everyone can feel welcome, and where rude behavior and incitement are not accepted. Do you play with others? Huseby believes that you should work for a good gaming culture for everyone – regardless of gender. Even so, they see that poor tone among players can have a greater negative impact on girls than boys. – Then safe meeting places can have an extra important function. – Are there many boy servers? Maja has received almost exclusively positive feedback about the discord server. – Most people think it’s a fantastic initiative, and that this is something the Norwegian gaming community has been waiting for, says Maja. But she has also received several comments from boys who are not as positive. Several believe that she both excludes and discriminates against the opposite sex by not allowing them onto the server. But Maja believes that they just have to find their way in. – There are so many servers that are only for guys. Hey you! What do you think about this case? Do you have any tips for other cases I should look into? Then please feel free to contact me!
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Created the girl server “Gamergæls” on Discord – got almost 1000 members in a month – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
