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07th February 2008, 20:35

Eyes of an Indian female gamer

After being interviewed several times, I realized something. Why have I been asked about my culture? Why have I been asked if my parents approve of my gaming life? It wasn't even about me being female anymore, it goes much deeper than that. The time's that I've wrapped a sari around my body or gently placed a bindi on my forehead, I never really looked in the mirror to realize who I was. It hit me, I am an indian female. But what does that mean?

Traditional Indian dress

Women have come along way in this world. We can vote now, get a job, get divorces and many other things. To the general public, equality issues have died out. Have they really? There are still many problems that remain hidden in our world, female gaming may seem petty but in some countries it's looked at as a sin almost.

Wake up call

Yes I am Indian, but I was born in New York City. I can't speak Hindi fluently, I don't believe in my Hindu religion and for the most part I consider myself American. There are sometimes though, where I experience a culture clash.

My parents were born and brought up in India. They went to all girls and all boys schools, they never dated, never had a TV or a computer and their marriage was even arranged. To this day, my parents nag me about my gaming life "Stop sitting on the computer, go read a book!" To them, the only thing that matters for an Indian woman is being educated, getting a job, getting married and having kids.

Me and my mother

You may think that sounds crazy, but it's worse in India. My DotA team (all-female) has been invited to attend a huge gaming event in India this summer. The organizers of the event were told about my team by a friend (thanks Elroy) and they were shocked to learn that the leader was an Indian girl. My team will be up for a surprise, I don't think they will understand the kind of reactions that we will get until we get there.

Granted I am used to hearing "OMG a girl!?" on ventrilo every now and then when I speak, but this was different. This time it wasn't a sense of excitement, rather utter confusion. When I heard there was an Indian team for Prime Nations #2, I wanted to join it immediately. The kinds of reactions I got from the Indian community were daunting at times. I was offended almost, why was it such a big deal?

I never realized how different I was until the captain of the Indian prime nations team talked to me one day. He told me female gaming doesn't even exist in India, and when I thought of it, so far I'm the only Indian female gamer known to my existance. He kept asking me to write something on the subject, that it was something the Indian community would love to read. It was then I decided that this was something I should work more on.

The Future

When I was a little girl I wanted to be a teacher, like my mother. It was secure, I could spend summers with my kids and it was just an average job. Over the years though, I realized I am not average. I have competition oozing out of my veins and my priorities are different from the standard Indian girl. There are so many things I want to accomplish, especially with female gaming.

The PMS Clan leader, Amber "Athena Twin" Dalton, will be travelling to India with our team. Together, we want to make a difference in the female gaming world. We want to promote it, show girls that they shouldn't be afraid to pick up a controller or put on a headset.

Posing at Fire in Ice 2007

In an interview on the Fnatic site I was asked if I ever thought of going to India to work for e-Sports. I'd say, yes, I would do it in a heartbeat. I am PMS.Rinoa, your resident Indian female gamer, ready to make a change.

Comments (120)

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(last year) #71 Akilla

nice article, hope female gaming grow more and more http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/4402/ury1qz2.jpg

(last year) #72 ROSnake

good read

(last year) #73 iahsnab

its good to see female gaming coming up.... but many guys are so irate to the idea....dunno why its just another spectrum where women push for equality.... and i'm sure in due time that there will be a prodigy girl gamer somewhere Lets start encouraging female gaming and stop the female flaming....lol... corny huh... but its got a certain zing to it....:P

(last year) #75 imported_kawaiitokowaii

"when I thought of it, so far I'm the only Indian female gamer known to my existance." sadly =[

(last year) #76 wNv\|VBadGirl

i dont think this article should be called the way it is as long you deny anything which goes in that direction. It would be more correct the eyes of an american girl or perhaps hindu-american (since american-indian would create a confusion). Plus.. your mum is right :p. As long as you find a balance between education and pc all is fine. as for only indian girl you're perhaps the only one in wc3 but def not generally speaking. I have a few female indian who are gamers :). anyway, girls fighting :D Hold the S cause i'm an AINT.

(last year) #78 _evan

Quoting VBadGirl:

this reminds me one of my teachers said when we spoke about this subject, In the near future the worse thing a person could be is WHITE, CAUCASIAN MALE. hahah and we will have to male anti discrimination laws for them :D.

I believe if a woman is willing to work just as hard as a male counterpart she should have the same opportunity in advancing at her job as a male does but I have to agree, women do tend to get paid less because then aren't as... maniac about work as males are. Women generally have other things to worry about when they get home: cleaning, cooking, taking care of the kids, making sure everything's fine.. etc. Males have a lot less responsibilities.

If women and men would equally help and respect each other perhaps the gap will become shorter.

You can't pretend equality regardless of other factors. communism era and max and stalin times have ended. Ppl are not equal.. but i want if a i work more than my male collueague and better to be paid better than him. I would consider that fair.

PS: when can I move to Norway? :)).

I love the following quote (your first comment about being a white male)! It's slightly ironic of course.

"White folks ain't trying to keep you down. White folks just don't like to be pushed into a corner. They'll come around. You just got to make it look like it was their idea, like they're the ones that thought of it. They need to feel like they're the great emancipators. Like it was theirs to give in the first place. Let'em have it. I mean, if that's all it takes, let them have it."

Governments are so wrapped up in being politically right, that a lot of the laws being introduced are merely to keep voters rather than being good for society on the whole. It's already at the stage, where a good majority of people are noticing they're 'better off' (financially) not working (claiming benefits), than having a full time job.

No doubt women should've the same rights, but you're over looking the fact that there comes a point where they're just not good enough, or not willing to ask for a pay rise. I don't pretend that there aren't discrepancies, but if a women isn't willing to fight for her rights to equal pay, who else is going to fight for her rights?

Men are quite lazy in all fairness, and it's women who are intent to appear as these unemotional, workaholics, who can match the best of the best without even thinking of sleep or pressure!

I think we are heading backwards in some ways. Teenage pregnancies in the UK are the highest in Europe, and a good chunk of them, being under the legal age of having sex (16). The highest crime rates we've ever had, and the fullest prisons.

I'd love equality, but introducing sex and race ratio's (e.g. A prison [could be any business] has to have so many black or Asian staff to the number of whites, so if a job is available and only one black man applies, despiting being vastly under qualified in comparison to numerous white males, he will be given preference), and targets is only going to aggravate.

And as for Norway, I guarantee there will be a huge backlash, especially from companies in the traditionally male dominated areas (fuel, technology). I bet some oil companies would rather pay any fine than be told what to do, and it will come to a point where they will just say 'f*ck you' and pack up. A company should be free to employ whoever they want, just as I'm allowed to say whatever I want. Political whine!

(last year) #79 wNv\|VBadGirl

well, I think I stated that pretty obviously. yeah women who aren't competitive enough should not be paid same as they would be just because they are females, but i want that if I work just as hard as a male or even harder to be rewarded accordingly. Why some women don't ask for a pay rise even if they know they deserve it, it's beyond me, because I'm not that way. I'm more dynamic and more.. errrmm what's the word for it.. :p... in a male way?? haha. You are right they should fight for themselves but that attitude wont change overnight, not when you've lived in a society which kept telling you (and they still do) women aren't good with PCs, women aren't good enough to fix something in the house, women, aren't strong enough to resist pressure, women aren't as smart as males are.. and all other bullshit which I've kept hearing over and over again. When you learn as kid that you're female's main role is to have a family and raise kids while you man provides, things wont change very soon. I think it's a society thing as well as a person thing. Of course males also encourage this bullshit and they have been doing it for so long. They have enough pressure and competition from other male colleague now females to compete with them also?? OH MY!! As for why the hell so many pregnancies I believe it's part from their parent neglect (most important and major factor) and secondly society(school, media) which keeps failing those kids. I think parents were caught off-guard by these times. They simply don't know how to approach their own child and educate them the proper way. About oil and petrol companies.. they have so much money they wont care about any fines :p. Last edited by VBadGirl at 11.02.2008, 02:40 Hold the S cause i'm an AINT.

(last year) #80 Oljieha

even my cat plays dota

(last year) #82 MCCjerm

I remember chatting to the indian players at Asian WCG. The DoA player had never played the game before in his life at his national indian qualifier, he just rocked up button mashed and won a free trip to singapore, this dude even lost to my country's DoA player who was absolutely terrible (but he actually played the game) finishing last. I dont know much about india's competitive gaming scene but from the sounds of it its pretty bad. however i think they did get one medal for fifa2007 or something like that lol

(last year) #83 Lus7

Indian parents can be hard at times but it's not that all Indian parents are the same. if your parents are supportive enough they'll let you play professionally.

you said the captain of Indian team captain talked to you about female gaming being inexistent in India. well as far as i know the Indian team captain for PN #2 is cranberry. well to be honest he doesn’t deserve to lead the Indian team cause he isn’t that good plus the members who are in the team are a bunch of idiots who think they are real imba.there are a lot of players who play better than these guys. coming back to the point,crannberry is wrong. I personally know 4-5 female dota players who are good and by good i mean they can put up a good fight against the current Indian team in PN #2.

......

(last year) #84 iahsnab

at #83... i fully agree and support you....

(last year) #87 PMSRinoa

we are not saying that there are no females in india that play games. we are talking about a PROFESSIONAL level.

She's a maneater

(last year) #89 Lus7

i know what you are trying to say. i believe that playing on a proffessional level completely depends on the individual.i have a friend who plays dota on a proffessional level but she doesnt attend all the tournamants that are conducted due to the college issues.at this stage you cant completely ignore education,you have to maintain a balance between the two and taht's what she's doing.some people know her but there are some people who ignore her cause she plays better than them and thats one of the reasons why female gaming isn't progressing in india.

Last edited by Lus7 at 11.02.2008, 19:37

......

(last year) #90 wNv\|VBadGirl

perhaps she meant being in a professional team and all but i dont think she would be where she is now if she was actually in india ;). Hold the S cause i'm an AINT.

(last year) #91 PMSRinoa

I'm not ignoring education. I'm a full time student in my second year of university.

She's a maneater

(last year) #92 Lus7

i'm well aware of what you are doing and i didnt say that you are ignoring education,i said that in general...see,basically it comes down to the indian system.you try as hard as you want to but if you want to do some thing in india you have to have immense power at your dissposal,casue theres corruption at every step and all people think is how can they benefit.this 1 of the reasons why there aren't a lot of gaming sponsers in india and the ones that are there lack the suffucuant infrastructure.india is being dominated by male chauvinist pigs since ages which is the reason for why you get ultra rude comments in indian rooms and forums. what ruxandra said is right and thats not just the case in gaming.all i can say is people will talk and criticize about your team but if you want to achieve something you'll have to ignore the bad comments and keep working hard. i hope you understood what i tired to say.nyways GL for your visit :) Last edited by Lus7 at 11.02.2008, 21:43 ......

(last year) #105 manhunter321

abt gg client india dota room there are somd good persons there are even bad persons see the positive side that indians such as lus7 and elroy are on ur side and try to support u and abt education we are indians its a social obligation u wont believ i get scolded from my parents everyday for playing warcraft 3 im trying so much but still cant improve why coz im an indian i dont get support from y parents and im sure even u dont get support from ur parents its all part and parcel of being an ndian or getting related to india in some way you will know and recognise me after somtime

(last year) #93 Hereticeighteen

Really nice reading, gl to you in every project you start :)

Disclaimer: DON'T BAN ARGENTINIANS FTW!

OMG it's shiny!

(last year) #103 Phil

Haha, it was only to bug Metro :p I'm forever blowing bubbles!

(last year) #94 BRBrando168

lol it's clear _evan doesn't understand how sponsorship works at all.

" By accepting sponsorship and media interest, when you're by no means a world class player, just shows a lack of honesty and morals"

LOL wow, most ignorant statement in this entire page.

(last year) #104 Phil

Yeah. I think he doesn't get the idea of what exposure is worth, and that companies actually pay for it. I could make some pretty funny remarks on behalf of SK's CS-team since 2004 and their sponsorships (of course this count for our own squads too). But it sees like he just don't get it. I'm forever blowing bubbles!

(last year) #106 ORlyYaRlyNoWai

"I'm by no means naive and I know how business works, but as a player you're accountable " I think you missed his point. This quote sums it up all. He does very well know how sponsorhip works. He just says that while the sponsor does get exposure and ergo value for his money, as a gamer she is still accountable to the standards set by other top gamers, and hence looked down upon by the community.

(last year) #96 MCCjerm

oh and now that i remember the indian dota team didnt even turn up to the event so the two other teams in their group got a free win lewl

(last year) #107 DmkBassAgents

u owned us

(last year) #108 PoRco

Generalize much?

(last year) #109 eSubaSuRpR1sE

very nice article

(last year) #111 VeNoM-EA

The DotA community in India isn't conservative by any means (despite what Cranberry says) and that's the community you're going to be interacting with if you come here. I really doubt you'll experience any bias. Most gamers would be hard put to give a damn. Anyhow, nice article - you're a good writer.

(last year) #113 Sharp_hr

#73 maybe they are scared that females will pwn them ahhahahahha im impressed by the way those insults are working. not just to delete them i recommend perma ban from mymym. btw gj Neha. sry i late. :) we can't survive without fire and faith.

(last year) #114 UltimateKaiser

gj i like that girls are getting into the competitive scene of dota it makes the scene more interesting and you shouldnt be discriminated youre as good as any guy an di bet you could kik the ass of every person in this conversation

(last year) #115 lordAether

forgive me for reply but all these dialogs like "women are discriminated in professional gaming" and " male supremacy, female subservience" are all irrelevant because instead of whining, why not try ignoring gender discriminations for once your perceived inequality subsides, so is inequality itself "Im not really a fan of feminism for it is a form of sexism, but what I am trying to say is merely a change of perspectives of the genders, for perception is reality"

(last year) #116 amimamimo

how i wish girl start to play dota more and mroe

(last year) #117 KujO

Keep going Rinoa, wanna see you and your team play in Indonesia some time. p.s Rinoa si soo cutee ^^

(last year) #118 xt4sisDav1d_ggc

nice article D: Gay test. use ur thumbs w/ ur Cellphone. BAD NEWS for you D:

(last year) #119 Meitre

...

(11 months ago) #120 KrakatH

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