Go Back to the Kitchen

Tools of empowerment

One of the most common games in which this sexism happens are First Person Shooters (FPS). FPS games are known for their violent environment and weapons like guns and knives. Inspired by my story and of the women I’ve interviewed, I’ve designed a series of tools to reclaim the insult ‘go back to the kitchen’. All the weapons are made of things that are involved in the process of sandwich making and can be found in the kitchen. By turning the insult into a weapon it has become a tool of power, instead of an insult meant to degrade female gamers. Empowering women, in the literal sense.

Reappropriation

Reappropriation is the cultural process by which a group reclaims words or objects that were previously used in a way to insult or disparage that group. Reappropriation is very common in sexuality and gender, with words like ‘queer’, and ‘dyke’ but also ‘gamer girl’. Which was first used by men to purposely distinguish women from other gamers but has since been reclaimed by the female gamer community.

Documentary

For my research I conducted a series of interviews with (female) gamers, to provide insight into their experiences of harassment that is encountered online.