Series: Playful Thinking
An important new voice provides an empowering look at why video games need feminismand why all of us should make space for more play in our lives. You play like a girl: Its meant to be an insult, accusing a player of subpar, un-fun playing. If youre a girl, and you grow up, do you play like a womanwhatever that means? In this provocative and enlightening book, Shira Chess urges us to play like feminists. Playing like a feminist is empowering and disruptiveit exceeds the boundaries of gender yet still advocates for gender equality. Roughly half of all players identify as female, and Gamergate galvanized many of gamings disenfranchised voices. Chess argues games are in need of a creative platform-expanding, metaphysical explosionand feminism can take us there. She reflects on the importance of play, playful protest, and how feminist video games can help us rethink the ways that we tell stories. Feminism needs video games as much as video games need feminism. Play and games can be powerful. Chesss goal is for all of usregardless of gender orientation, ethnicity, ability, social class, or stance toward feminismto spend more time playing as a tool of radical disruption.
About Artists & Writers:
Shira Chess is Associate Professor of Entertainment and Media Studies at the University of Georgia and the author of Ready Player Two.