'Lady game creators' meet up on Twitter

 

'Lady game creators' tweet to meet

'Lady game creators' meet up on Twitter

This story started on CNN iReport

By Nicole Saidi, CNN November 28, 2012 -- Updated 2230 GMT (0630 HKT) | Filed under: Social Media

A boy and a girl play video games on their phones in September 2012 in Ruesselsheim, Germany.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• A question on Twitter helped spark two hashtags about women in the gaming industry
• One focuses on social issues, the other aims to connect like-minded women
• What advice do you have for those seeking a mentor, or looking to become one?
• Share your thoughts in the comments below or on CNN iReport

(CNN) -- One simple tweet can help push the start button for action, thanks in part to the viral nature of social media.

Luke Crane, who says he works at Kickstarter and describes himself as a self-publisher of role-playing games, floated out a question on Monday evening: "Why are there so few lady game creators?"

His inquiry touched on a controversy that's been brewing for a long time. Women's role in the gaming industry is part of a greater conversation about gender roles and stereotypes in the scientific, techie and geek spheres. These fields are often said to be dominated by men. But are they really?

As the discussion continued, Twitter user Filamena Young apparently was the first person to start using the #1ReasonWhy hashtag. Others adopted it as well. Grievances were aired, issues were discussed, and the tag started getting more and more attention.

Then, talk started turning into something more. The #1ReasonMentor hashtag popped up to help women interested in the video gaming industry to meet others who are working in the field, and vice versa. Here's a very abbreviated snapshot of the discussion: COPY http://edition.cnn.com