Geek Woman: You girls are outnumbered there at your job, what is that like?
Anne Odom : I've been outnumbered ever since I graduated from my all girls Catholic high school - first as a philosophy major, second as a programmer, and now as part of a game development team. The difference between then and now is simply the ratio at which I'm outnumbered. Being the only woman in a group of 10 men doesn't really throw your stride, but sometimes when you're the only woman in a room of 100 men, it can feel a little disconcerting.
Rose Hunt : I'm fortunate to work with a great group of professionals. About the only issue I can name with being outnumbered is that we did have to post a notice on the door that one of the women's bathrooms is really, really women's only.
Geek Woman: I noticed that in addition to you on the staff at Volition, the office assistant, human relations manager, bookkeeper, office manager and one environmental artist, are women. Why so few?
Rose Hunt : Our numbers are growing! There are a few more you could add to that count, including a third project manager. I think what's most interesting about the staffing is that while women are the minority here; we make up a full half of the project management team.
Rose Hunt : I speculate that since women gamers tend to be more casual about gaming, fewer women consider game development as a serious career choice. I believe that as the ranks of women gamers continue to swell, so will the number of women who are inspired to work in the gaming industry.
Anne Odom : Actually, there are a few more of us than that - not everyone may yet be listed on the website. It's still the case, though, that women make up a small percentage of this studio. To be honest, we don't get very many female applicants, and while the number of women trained in technological fields is growing, it's still the case that men outnumber women in seeking out game-related higher education.
Anne Odom : The place to start diversifying the work force is actually middle school. There are studies that have been done that show that middle school is where girls who have been interested in video games, math, science, etc., suddenly lose interest in all of those things. Encouraging more girls to continue with their interests and follow them through higher education is how we'll see a more balanced gender ratio in the future. It's not going to happen overnight.
Anne Odom : I've been outnumbered ever since I graduated from my all girls Catholic high school - first as a philosophy major, second as a programmer, and now as part of a game development team. The difference between then and now is simply the ratio at which I'm outnumbered. Being the only woman in a group of 10 men doesn't really throw your stride, but sometimes when you're the only woman in a room of 100 men, it can feel a little disconcerting.Rose Hunt : I'm fortunate to work with a great group of professionals. About the only issue I can name with being outnumbered is that we did have to post a notice on the door that one of the women's bathrooms is really, really women's only.
Geek Woman: I noticed that in addition to you on the staff at Volition, the office assistant, human relations manager, bookkeeper, office manager and one environmental artist, are women. Why so few?
Rose Hunt : Our numbers are growing! There are a few more you could add to that count, including a third project manager. I think what's most interesting about the staffing is that while women are the minority here; we make up a full half of the project management team.
Rose Hunt : I speculate that since women gamers tend to be more casual about gaming, fewer women consider game development as a serious career choice. I believe that as the ranks of women gamers continue to swell, so will the number of women who are inspired to work in the gaming industry.Anne Odom : Actually, there are a few more of us than that - not everyone may yet be listed on the website. It's still the case, though, that women make up a small percentage of this studio. To be honest, we don't get very many female applicants, and while the number of women trained in technological fields is growing, it's still the case that men outnumber women in seeking out game-related higher education.
Anne Odom : The place to start diversifying the work force is actually middle school. There are studies that have been done that show that middle school is where girls who have been interested in video games, math, science, etc., suddenly lose interest in all of those things. Encouraging more girls to continue with their interests and follow them through higher education is how we'll see a more balanced gender ratio in the future. It's not going to happen overnight.
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