A few weeks ago I wrote about the enraging implementation of sexism in modern video games. Those who have spoken out against it have been continually sent rape and death threats. One of the victims of such attacks, as I mentioned previously is Ankit Sarkeesian. Sarkeesian is the creator of youtube channel "Tropes vs. Women," where she critiques all forms of sexism found in many of today's popular video games. In her videos she reveals countless video game clips where women are beaten, abused, raped and murdered for no reason. More often they are used as "tittlating" decoration and objects rather than actual characters within the game. Unfortunately many people within the gaming community are outraged by her poinient remarks. Over the past few months Sarkeesian has been receiving phone calls, emails and letters all with threats of rape and death.
These threats of not stopped Sarkeesian from spreading her message. In fact as a result of these threats, the gaming industry is finally making sexism in their games an issue worth altering. We can hope that over the next few years the industry will create games that portray women in a less sexual manner. Women do in fact make up 48% of the gaming population.
Sarkeesian has been able to continue on with her work despite threats. That is until, last Tuesday when she cancelled her talk at Utah State University. This was in light of a shooting threat sent to the University that read, "This will be the deadliest school shooting in American history, and I'm giving you a chance to stop it." The email was sent under the name of Mar Lépine, the name of the 1989 shooter of 14 women in Montreal who had killed himself in the process.
It would seem at first that, in order to ensure the safety of the students and the continuation of the talk, the school would increase their security. Well this opens up a whole new can of worms; gun laws! In a statement issued by the University the administration wrote, "Sarkeesian was informed that in accordance with the State of Utah law regarding the carrying of firearms, if a person has a valid concealed firearm permit and is carrying a weapon, they are permitted to have it at the venue." So despite this horrifying threat that state would still allow someone to enter a college venue with a weapon.
Sarkeesian then had no choice but to cancel the event, not only to ensure her safety but to the hundreds of university students who would be attending. This is an outrage. This story raises the issue of sexism and real life threats against those who oppose it as well as outdated gun laws the risk the safety of the public. American law has silenced a woman's freedom of speech.
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