With a recent article from a popular video game outlet leaving out women entirely from their look back on the past 30 years of video game history, the video game industry space has seen many social media posts supporting women in the industry. There has been an inspiring number of articles sharing the stories of women who could have been included, as well as posts highlighting women currently making an impact in the space.
If you’re interested in being a part of keeping the momentum going to ensure the inclusion of gender diversity in gaming, here are five organizations to support who actively work to further gender diversity and inclusion among game industry professionals and in the online gaming community.
1. Women in Games International
Los Angeles-based Women in Games International (WIGI) has advocated tirelessly for women, femme-identifying and nonbinary individuals in the video game industry. WIGI provides resources, education, mentorship, networking opportunities, and more with the goal of broadening access and fairness to gender diverse individuals in the game industry.
The WIGI Mission as stated on their website is as follows:
“Women in Games International (WIGI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to cultivate resources to advance economic equality and diversity in the global games industry.
Since our inception in 2005, WIGI has been committed to investing our expertise and resources to highlight and celebrate women, femme-identifying, and nonbinary professionals in the games industry.
Through our programs, newsletters, panels, workshops, and networking events, WIGI works to normalize diversity in the games industry by increasing representation and paving the way to for the next generation of games industry professionals.”
Learn more about WIGI and how to get involved here.
2. Femme Gaming
From their women and LGBTQIA+ friendly Discord server, to their events, to their support of gender diversity and anti-bullying and harassment in online gaming, to their amplification of talented women gamers, to their work helping organizations learn to do better in the diversity, equity and inclusion space, Femme Gaming is making waves in the video game and Esports communities.
From their website:
“Femme Gaming is a women-led esports and gaming organization providing a safe community for women and gender-diverse gamers. We focus on the amplification of elite women gaming talent.
We also provide business solutions to organizations and brands to provide a safe space for all.”
Learn more about Femme Gaming and join the femme army here.
3. Women in Games
Founded in 2009, Women in Games works to further gender diversity and inclusivity in the video game industry. WIG works on a variety of projects with partners from within the gaming industry, research and development, and academia in four main areas: Policy, Education, Industry, and Community.
The Women in Games Purpose and Mission is stated on their website as follows:
“The purpose of Women in Games is to build a fair, equal and safe environment empowering girls and women in the global gaming ecosystem.
Our mission is to create new platforms, pathways and synergies, which foster opportunities that empower girls and women in the global gaming sector. Women in Games will bring together agents of change, allies, men and boys, champions, experts, grass-roots organisations and others for new dialogues focussed on shared solutions towards fairness and equality for all. By investing in women and girls, we will be instrumental in influencing positive societal change with significant benefits for the gaming sector.”
Disclaimer: Several members of the DGN team are Women in Games ambassadors. If you’d like to check out their ambassadorship program among other ways to get involved, check out their information here.
4. Black Girl Gamers
Representation matters. Founded in 2015 as a small Facebook group, Black Girl Gamers (BGG), focuses on supporting and empowering black women gamers. The community has now grown to more than 9,000 black women with a passion for gaming who strive to make a positive impact on the gaming community.
From their website:
“Evolving from a like-minded group of friends to a community-powered business, BGG has become an influential agent of change throughout the gaming industry. Partnering with brands to change gaming from the inside out.
Across content, events, education, consulting, and talent, BGG partners with endemic and non-endemic brands throughout the gaming space (Google, Facebook, Netflix, etc.) and gaming communities to grow the influence, representation, equity and experience of black women in gaming.”
Organizations looking to partner with BGG can use the contact form here. Black women looking to join the Black Girl Gamer community can join their Facebook group here.
5. 1,000 Dreams Fund BroadcastHER Initiative
The 1,000 Dreams Fund has several programs supporting women in gaming under their BroadcastHER Initiative. From an eSports cadetship in partnership with Riot Games, to grants for women broadcasters on Twitch, to a year-long fellowship program to fundraisers and more, the initiative is making incredible strides in uplifting and amplifying the talents and voices of women pursuing careers in gaming.
From their website:
“1,000 Dreams Fund supports talented women following their dreams across a variety of industries. Our BroadcastHER Initiative and grant programs are designed to support women who are pursuing their dreams in content creation and gaming, while raising awareness for the continued gender gap in financial funding in the ever-expanding gaming and broadcasting space. This includes supporting cis women, trans women, trans feminine, and those who face disparities and discrimination in correlation to misogyny and identity.”
Visit their website link above to learn more about the BroadcastHER Initiative programs or to donate to the 1,000 Dreams Fund.
How Can You Make an Impact?
These five organizations are just a few of the many organizations doing important work to support diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in gaming. Having an awareness of these organizations and the work they’re doing provides an opportunity to amplify their reach. Whether you choose to volunteer, share this information with your social media networks, or send relevant program information to someone you know who could benefit, you have a chance to be a part of the solution. Let’s all strive to create a vibrant, diverse, and safe gaming community and industry. My hope is that in another 30 years, no identity group could possibly be overlooked for their contributions because we have come together fully as a community to accept nothing less.
