:: netwoman's blog ::

GamerchiX - A Women's Online Gaming Community

In the last couple of years, I've participated in various online gaming forums and communities. It's always a nice feeling finding a group of female gamers to chat with and discuss games, gaming or non-gaming stuff. The warm fuzzy feeling however, disappears quickly in most of these online communities (I won't name them here), when ideological flame wars ensue - particularly those related to sexist, racism and homophobic discourses.

Some of these communities claim to be safe discussion spaces, while others do not. Some allow only women to participate, others do not. Regardless of whether the community allows men to participate or not - I still see the same old crap surfacing; women bashing each other, men bashing women, men bashing men, bashing the queer community, racist bashing. I hate it. I almost gave up on participating in them all together. I walked away feeling disgusted.

Then I found another online gaming community, and to be truthful I was wary at first given the numerous negative experiences I've had in the past. GamerchiX is a discussion forum for women gamers over at Xbox. It's a public forum, but restricted only to women and you have to be approved by the list moderator Trixie360.

Here's the Manifesto:

If you play games, you're a gamer chick. Whether you're an Xbox Halo 2 champ, play RPGs on the PC, or Mah Jong Tiles on MSN Games, you're a gamer chick.

Xbox GamerchiX don't talk trash about other women. Ever. When women stop hating on each other … we will rule the world!

Xbox GamerchiX support each other.

Xbox GamerchiX are good role models for young gamer girls.

Xbox GamerchiX are not pin-ups. We're all hot in our own unique way, but it's about the games and the companionship, not T&A.

You can be a member of any clan or group, but while you're part of GamerchiX, you don't talk trash about other gamers.

I signed up, with hopes of a different community experience, and I'm glad I did. I've spent a lot of time going through the forum posts and reading the topics posted and the replies - anything from game questions, to meeting F2F to social support for personal issues. The space is very positive and supportive, and I feel that I've found my gaming community.

So if you're a female gamer, I strongly encourage you to join XGX. There's about 2700 women waiting to chat with you and hang out!

posted by Netwoman @ 5:08 PM