The misogynistic gamer is a well-known trope, and while it’s not true for all gamers, it certainly applies to a large facet of the subculture. So many gamers believe that because games are make-believe, their misogyny towards female gamers is completely inconsequential. Honestly, I don’t know why you would think that just because you’re anonymous, your words don’t matter, but so many internet users have employed that logic for decades; it’s unsurprising at this point. 

One mother found herself at an impasse when she overheard her 18-year-old son berating women while gaming. She decided to punish him, taking away his games and gaming chair that she bought for him, but her husband disagreed. While he thought the behavior was unacceptable, he didn’t know whether it was right to punish an 18-year-old who is technically an adult. When her friends and loved ones had mixed feelings about her punishing him, she felt more conflicted than ever.