Only 4% Of UK Game Developers Are Female

It's a sexist industry

Sep 9 2010, 12:01am CDT | by Jordan Cressman

Only 4% Of UK Game Developers Are Female

There's a new study out that shows just how under-represented women are in the video game workforce. In the UK just 4% of developers are of the female persuasion, making it one of the most gender-unbalanced professions in the entire country.

The statistic shouldn't come as a huge shock to anyone. There are barely any female game developers that anyone has ever even heard of. But what's more alarming is the trend is actually moving in the wrong direction.

Just four years ago, the number of female game developers in the UK was 8% higher. So even as more and more women get into the workforce, fewer and fewer are choosing to go into game development.

The survey results come from University of Liverpool PhD student Julie Prescott.

Of course, technological fields in general are dominated by men, but certainly not always to the extent revealed here.

However, on the other side of the same companies, positions like marketing, production, and public relations have a much higher female concentration. That's because those jobs don't have that stigma of people working 120-hour weeks in the days leading up to a game's scheduled deadline.

That's one of the most common reason given by those surveyed as to why they haven't explored the field. The consensus is that there is no consideration to women with children and other family responsibilities.

Via Escapist

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