Still an Uphill Journey: Women's Difficulties in Collaborative Gaming Events

Gender disparity persists in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), impacting teamwork, productivity, and innovation. In the gaming industry, women constitute only 30% of professionals, despite comprising half of the players, raising concerns about effective game design and marketing for a diverse audience. Time-bounded collaborative events, such as hackathons and game jams, have been used to promote inclusion, providing opportunities for networking and skill development, among other benefits. However, game jams have low participation rates from minorities. This paper describes a qualitative study using card sorting and interviews with nine women game jam participants to elucidate their difficulties. We explore the interplay of these difficulties, the strategies employed to overcome them, and the subsequent impact on women's experiences. By shedding light on these issues, we aim to contribute insights that help mitigate barriers, fostering a more inclusive environment in the gaming industry and similar domains.