Monthly Archives: April 2006

Gaming While Female [Gaming Communities, Part 3]

I know this installment was supposed to be about the greater “boy’s club” of gaming, but getting a new gaming group here has brought some more personal issues to the forefront. In particular, being “one of the boys” (but not really). You see, I can never be “one of the boys” because, well, I’m not a boy. Or a male. Or so much male identified, although I tend to fit more into “masculine” gender roles than “feminine” ones. I am female, and that’s enough to set me apart because my main gaming group consists of two men.

I know of two women here who like games, but I haven’t had a chance to have them over to play yet (one of them was supposed to come Saturday, but apparently her previous engagement went long, so she didn’t make it). It also doesn’t help that the guys I game with live in my building, whereas the women I want to game with don’t. For reasons that I want to explore, it seems harder for me to form primary gaming communities with women. I could brush it off here as random obstacles — physical distance, language barriers (the men are American, the women are Taiwanese), etc — but, I think it goes deeper than that.

Do the sexes game differently? Is my inability to game “like a woman” what keeps me out of primarily female gaming environments? Is that fundamental difference why I often feel like an interloper in my gaming communities? I don’t know, really, but I want to find out. Continue reading

Posted in Gaming Communities, Gender issues, Personal, Sex, sexuality, and sexual politics | 4 Comments

It's not rape if they don't say no (this time)

I know I haven’t been around lately, and I’m sorry. I have some posts half finished, but I haven’t had the time lately. I have a big test on Monday (continued on Wednesday), but Golden Week is coming up so … Continue reading

Posted in Abuse, rape, and domestic violence, Media and journalism, Sex, sexuality, and sexual politics | 3 Comments

A Declaration of Ambiguity

As I find myself being more and more vague when talking about dating, I realize that nobody knows what my sexual orientation is. Maybe I’m becoming more aware from getting closer to my queer friends, or finally feeling comfortable enough to talk about sex when I talk to other women (of all persuasions).

Well, it’s about time I outed myself in honor of Blog Against Heteronormity Day because heteronormity is what made me default to straight. Well, this is my first public admittance: I don’t consider myself a heterosexual.

It feels good to say that. So what am I? Continue reading

Posted in Carnivals, Blog Against -ism Days, etc., Personal, Queer Issues | 20 Comments

Today is Blog Against Heteronormativity Day

Today is “Blog Against Heteronormativity Day” (April 22). Instigated and hosted by Nubian at Blac(k)ademic, this blogging event aims to raise awareness about heteronormativity. If you’re participating, or if you just want to show your support, you can pick up … Continue reading

Posted in Carnivals, Blog Against -ism Days, etc., Gender Caste, Queer Issues, Sex, sexuality, and sexual politics, Shrub.com Related | 2 Comments

The other side of… the other side?

Apparently someone who can only be bitter about me banning him made the letters of a Salon article. Under the heading, “Are Feminists Necessary?” he writes this multi-paragraph treatise that, frankly, I didn’t read. I sort of thought that his … Continue reading

Posted in Feminism, Media and journalism, Teh Funnay, The Evil -ism's | 5 Comments

Carnival of Feminists Issue 13 out now!

Issue number 13 of The Carnival of Feminists is out now! Hosted by Terry of I See Invisible People, this issue offers up a diverse collection of writings from feminist blogs. Well done Terry. Do stop by and leave a … Continue reading

Posted in Carnivals, Blog Against -ism Days, etc., Feminism, Link Blogging, Shrub.com Related | Leave a comment

Carnival of Bent Attractions #5

Better late than never, neh? The Carnival of Bent Attractions #5 is up over at jay sennett jaywalks. No topics per say, but Jay has this to say: “Each submissions reminds of the importance of our bodies, that we live … Continue reading

Posted in Carnivals, Blog Against -ism Days, etc. | Leave a comment

I like Chinese, I like their tiny little trees…

A Chink in the Armour by White Light Films Via one of my friends, A Chink in the Armour is a light hearted documentary that explores the stereotypes about Asians (specifically Chinese) in North America (specifically Toronto). There was a … Continue reading

Posted in Canada, Multiculturalism, Pop-science, Racism, USA | 4 Comments

Temporary Hiatus on Commenters

I upgraded WP and forgot to update my AuthImage code to match. Subsequently I’ve been getting spam. Lots of spam. I will update it soon, but I’m already late for meeting my friends to go to Nagoya, so I’ve turned … Continue reading

Posted in Shrub.com Related | Leave a comment

Heads up on a new organization…

Ragnell is trying to spread awareness for a new organization called Friends of Lulu. I don’t have the time to write about it myself, so here’s her e-mail instead (formatted for blog): Hello everyone. I started http://womenincomics.blogspot.com (and lurking around … Continue reading

Posted in Abuse, rape, and domestic violence, Comics, cartoons, manga, and anime | 1 Comment