Equal Play: Women in Gaming
Women in Gaming – Project Summary
Problem Statement
Women are significantly underrepresented in the gaming industry due to gender biases, lack of mentorship, online harassment, and limited educational opportunities. Even women with a background in software engineering often lack knowledge of the additional tools and software required for gaming careers. Many are unaware of the industry’s opportunities or perceive it as a male-dominated space, limiting their participation. It is a cycle that starts from childhood. As boys play more video games, they get more immersed and interested in this space and ending up pursuing careers in the industry, whereas girls perceive it as a boy thing from childhood. Then games created by boys become games for boys. And the cycle repeats.
Target Group
Women who are juniors or seniors in university, or who are in early career stages who need upskilling, mentorship, and guidance to enter the gaming industry.
Proposed Solution
The project will take a three-pillar approach:
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Upskilling Program: Partnering with a company or NGO to provide training on gaming-related software and tools, ensuring participants gain the necessary technical skills.
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Mentorship Program: Connecting participants with industry professionals through a structured 1:1 mentorship scheme to offer career guidance and networking opportunities.
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Career Support: Helping participants craft competitive CVs and prepare for job applications in the gaming industry.
Hub Activities for the Project
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Training Program: Creating and delivering a technical training program in partnership with industry players.
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Mentor & Mentee Matching: Identifying mentors and pairing them with aspiring women who completed our training program.
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Industry Engagement: Reaching out to professionals through LinkedIn and email.
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Awareness & Recruitment: Promoting the program via social media, universities, and metro ads.
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Career Support Workshops: Providing guidance on CV building and job applications.
Short and Long-term Goals
Short-term goals:
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Launch the upskilling and mentorship program with the first cohort.
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Raise awareness through targeted outreach and university partnerships.
Long-term goals:
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Establish a sustainable pipeline of women entering the gaming industry.
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Increase female representation in gaming careers.
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Foster a more inclusive and diverse gaming ecosystem in Istanbul.
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Break the gender equality cycle in the gaming industry
Metrics
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Number of participants completing the training program.
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Number of mentors & mentees matched.
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Engagement rate: Frequency of mentor-mentee interactions.
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Awareness impact: Reach of promotional efforts (social media, universities, metro ads).
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Career outcomes: Percentage of participants securing gaming-related jobs or internships.