5 Things Women Can Do To Fight Back Against Online Abuse

Solid advice from video gaming critic Anita Sarkeesian's talk at the Sydney Opera House.

Anita Sarkeesian – media critic, blogger, creator of Feminist Frequency, and avowed enemy of misogynist neckbeards – gave a talk at the Sydney Opera House at the weekend that discussed #GamerGate, feminism, and women in popular culture.

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Sarkeesian's talk was an honest appraisal of the state of gaming culture, and outlined the ways she has been targeted by trolls and online attackers.

It was also pretty funny.

Like when she showed this clip to illustrate how gaming misogynists must feel:

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Sarkeesian described #GamerGate as "a massive and terrifying assault directed at the female fans, developers, and critics who [gaming misogynists] feel are destroying games".

She also ruined the Opera House forever by pointing out that from some angles, it kinda looks like the turrets from Portal.

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Are you still there?

That was one of two references to Portal; the second was when she discussed a Photoshop hoax that implied she had spent $1,000 of Kickstarter funds to buy herself a pair of Gucci loafers.

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Sarkeesian said these are the only shoes she'd ever blow that kind of money on.

In the talk, she said her attackers have cast her as a Disney villain personally responsible for the gaming industry's evolution into a less sexist space.

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Because it's much easier to blame one woman than a huge, ongoing cultural shift.

Sarkeesian talked about gaming's history as a male-dominated space. She said that despite playing video games since the age of 5, "I've been told that I'm not a gamer for as long as I can remember."

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She also explained how women have a complicated love-hate relationship with games while "white men have the luxury of unconditionally loving something made specifically for them".

As one of the most public victims of violent threats, identity misappropriation, impersonation hoaxes, and conspiracy theories online, Sarkeesian had a few words of wisdom for other women going through similar types of harassment:

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1. Take precautions and make sure your accounts are secure.

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Sarkeesian said that the Crash Override website is a good place to start if you want to learn more.

2. Do whatever you feel you have to do for your own mental well-being.

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3. Reach out to your support network

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Sarkeesian said that it's important to have people around you who can help you deal with the abuse, including blocking your abusers if it's needed.

4. "Get away from the internet and eat ice cream."

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Solid advice.

5. Don't feel pressured to go public.

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Sarkeesian said that we all collectively have to speak up about harassment that women face online, but at the same time you shouldn't feel like you have to if you're not comfortable with it.

And for real cultural change to occur, everyone has to act.

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"You can't be neutral on a moving train."

Because women shouldn't just have to get used to it.

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Her final piece of advice was simple: When women talk about their experiences, believe them.

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"Give us the benefit of the doubt and don't belittle us when we speak up. Don't say it's just the internet, or it's not real, or it's just boys being boys."

If you want to see more of Anita Sarkeesian talking feminism and gaming, this video from the Ideas at the House event is well worth the watch.

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