Game Developer Veteran Sexually Harassed Online

dammit

Last week, an abridged screencap of Mercier and Mattingly's Facebook conversation made its way around social media and then gaming news sites. It's shocking and uncomfortable to read: a stark illustration of the kind of treatment of women in the games industry that gets glossed over or discussed in general terms, but rarely gets exposed in so raw and ugly a form.P

Mattingly asks Mercier—her name and face blurred out—for a lead on a project in development at another studio. They make some polite small talk. And then, suddenly, he starts offering to kiss her vagina. She tries to steer the conversation back on track and ignores his sexual comments; he escalates them.

Eventually, she signs off without a goodbye; several hours later, he sends an offer for oral sex so graphic that it's blurred out of the initial thread that circulates.

Harassment is so common and so thoroughly normalized that learning to dodge and absorb it becomes as routine as carrying an umbrella.

http://kotaku.com/she-was-harassed-by-a-games-reporter-now-shes-speakin-1510714971

Credit to @Hanli for sharing this. Picked it up on Twitter and thought I'd post it here.

farsicon

This is indeed shocking! I wonder when this kind of behaviour will finally be eradicated... This makes me sooo ashamed to be a guy and feel like I want to apologise to all women on behalf of these assholes... :(

Tuism

Is this really what it's like "in the industry"? It sounds incredibly nuts. Like a lack of common sense or drunk every day or heroine addict kind of nuts. I hope no one has experienced this kind of behaviour around here.

Chippit

Tuism said:

Is this really what it's like "in the industry"? It sounds incredibly nuts. Like a lack of common sense or drunk every day or heroine addict kind of nuts. I hope no one has experienced this kind of behaviour around here.

Unfortunately, I hear enough of these stories to believe that it is indeed fairly common. While I've never seen any harassment happening in person, the male-dominant atmosphere is pervasive everywhere, and it's horrifically difficult to overcome, even as one conscientious of the issues. Like farsicon, it ashames me to be associated with it even by vague relation, and I speak out against such things whenever I see them.

EvanGreenwood

Just in case anyone remembers Chris from Amaze, and wasn't aware he'd now left Indiestatik as a result of this (and other good reasons) :

http://chrispriestman.wordpress.com/2014/01/22/ive-left-indie-statik/

Rigormortis

@BlackShipsFilltheSky, hmmmm was Chris the guy that gave the talk on Punk Games at the fast talking thing? I'm sorry I'm terrible with remembering names.

Tuism

Yeah, Chris was that guy about Punk Games. Kudos for him for sticking to his guns, I did think of him when Indiestatik was mentioned.

dammit

Tuism said:

Is this really what it's like "in the industry"? It sounds incredibly nuts. Like a lack of common sense or drunk every day or heroine addict kind of nuts. I hope no one has experienced this kind of behaviour around here.

I think it's true for a lot of different industries - but especially those where opportunities are limited and there is a far greater number of males than females.

I think what struck me is how quickly it escalated and how she just ignored it for the most part - trying to direct the conversation back to more work-related subject. It's rare, I think, that you actually get to see those conversations laid out starkly like that.