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Are guys choosing video games over social justice?
Gargoyle photo by Sarah YockeyJunior guys play video games in the lounge, a common lunch time activity for guys at Uni who may be choosing gaming over social justice.Published: Thursday, March 31, 2011 - 7:09am
Walk around Uni at lunch time, peeking your head into various classrooms. If you bop into a social justice club, such as Uni for Uganda, you will see mostly girls. Across the hall in Pokemon club, the guys rule the roost.
Taking a closer look at the make-up of the social justice clubs at Uni, from UFU and Habitat for Humanity to Green Club and S4BW, one thing stands out. There seem to be more girls than guys.
If you flip through last year's yearbook, 71% of the people in social justice club photos are girls. In 2008, 84% were female. Most current social justice club presidents are female.
Similarly, the numbers in the Social Justice (formerly Social Advocacy) class are skewed. Girls have outnumbered guys in the class by a ratio of 48 to 11 in the last five years that the numbers are available.
That's not to say all social action clubs and causes are female dominated. According to club sponsor Bill Sutton, Habitat Club is practically 50/50. He credits boys basketball, which prevents players from going on the annual Agora trip to the Mississippi Delta, as the main reason that since 2003 girls have made up an average of 70% of the applicants.
So while not true in every case, overall there seem to be more girls involved in social action causes at Uni.
Gargoyle reporter Sarah Yockey went out into the halls to find out why this is the case. Some students said it's just the causes at Uni that they don't care about.
"I just don't feel these causes really speak to me," said freshmen Diego Gundersen, "but there's this one bird rescue place and I would volunteer there, but there's no club to help aviators. I would happily do that, or saving puppies."
A group of freshmen offered lots of support toward going out after school and serving at a humane society or doing a similar activity. Freshmen Alice Rietz said she would be more likely to participate in a club "if they do stuff instead of just talk about it."
The desire to do something could explain why some clubs seem to have more balanced numbers. Food Pantry club, which repackages rice for distribution at each meeting, is one club that boasts a fairly even number of guys and girls. Perhaps the physical evidence of Food Pantry club's work could appeal more to guys than the planning and event organizing of other social justice clubs.
Short Uni lunches exacerbate the problem. Uni lunches are notoriously busy with make-up tests, fighting a path to the microwaves, and finishing up homework due in afternoon classes, not to mention talking to friends or eating. Among all the chaos, actually achieving anything in a club meeting could be considered an extraordinary feat!
"I volunteer like outside of school like at church and stuff like that, but I just don't do it really at school because I have a lot of other stuff to do and I want to spend time with my friends and stuff," said freshmen Bill Metcalf.
"I guess I would do it if it was after school, but during lunch - I guess I could go then," added Gunderson.
English teacher Suzanne Linder wonders if peer pressure has a lot to do with guys not participating in social justice clubs at Uni: "Any time there is that gender disparity it makes me wonder if there are guys who would like to be involved but feel like it's not a guy thing to do so they can't be involved."
Senior Buck Walsh, who is very involved with Habitat for Humanity, recalled how his peers responded to his involvement.
"I have this distinct memory, freshmen year, where you know the can drive we used to do for S4BW, we did it on Halloween. And at cross country I was telling [a teammate] about it and he was like "oh, that's lame," said Walsh.
For a very concrete but still plausible explanation, English teacher Elizabeth Majerus suggested that perhaps more guys are spending their time playing video games than participating in social justice causes.
"Guys are more likely to get sucked into playing video games in a sort of obsessive way, and I don't know why that is but I do think that's true," Majerus said.
In fact, according to the Washington Post, only 40% of gamers are female.
Social researchers have also suggested that a deep, psychological reason behind a person's empathy and willingness to work for a cause has to do with "contact."
In the 2001 paper, "White Male Identity Development: The Key Model," David Scott and Tracy Robinson discuss stages of awareness and empathy. They raise the idea of "a precipitating event, positive or negative, that creates dissonance between a person's existing belief system and real-life experiences with women and people of color that contradict this system."
While they focus specifically on white males, the idea seems applicable to any person. Sometimes even nice people don't care about an issue until they experience it firsthand.
The movie Mzungu, screened at the recent Uni For Uganda event, is an example of this. Four white guys travel to Africa, and in meeting the people and seeing the issues firsthand they become passionate about making a difference.
Lisa Spanierman, from the University of Illinois Department of Educational Psychology, suggests that women have more contact with injustice in the form of sexism, therefore they demonstrate more empathy for other oppressed people. Perhaps female Uni students are more involved in clubs because they understand what injustice feels like from their experiences with sexism.
But regardless of how Uni came to have a gender disparity in who participates in social justice causes, getting more guys to participate is important.
"I would rather it were equitable. I would rather that it were spread among men and women. I think because I feel like we all have to do something to make our world a better place, and if there is this perception that's kind of women's work then it's not going to happen. We're really not going to make the world a better place unless everyone feels invested in that and feels like it's their job," Majerus said.
So guys, here is your call to action: put down the controllers and get involved in making the world better.
Uni Club Statistics
2010
Club: girls/total
Food Pantry Club: 16/25
Green Club: 18/21
Habitat for Humanity 8/12
Letters to Haiti: 1/5
Gay Straight Alliance: 15/22
Students 4 a Better World: 14/14
Sexual Health Awareness Group: 6/13
Uni For Uganda: 15/18
2008
Club: girls/total
UNICEF: 7/8
Students 4 a Better World: 11/12
Gay Straight Alliance: 15/18
Uni For Uganda: 8/11
Prejudice Awareness Club: 9/10
*numbers taken from yearbook club photos
Comments
Yearbook Club Photos
I would like to point out that after having taken club photos for the last 3 years that they tend not to be optimal for statistical analysis, especially how you are using them here. We often get people missing, and sometimes clubs change etc...
I'm just pointing out that, while it's really the only source, it's not the best
Good job boys; keep up the progress, guys!
First of all, I agree with Adam.
Second, I think it is unlikely that many of the people in these clubs even care about the cause. I think more people than it is generally assumed use these clubs a résumé-builders, and if not them, then it is likely their parents are making them attend the club to build their child's résumé. So, male or female, plenty of them don't care about the cause.
Third, I agree with Ms. Linder's sentiment. Certainly it's generally believed that it is more "normal" for males to play video games and goof off rather than attend social justice clubs.
While I don't think playing video games at school is a very good thing, I don't know if I would go so far as to say it is the reason boys aren't choosing social justice clubs. I have my own reasons for disliking the video games at school, and I wish they weren't here, but that's life.
Also, judging by your data, percentage wise, there were more boys attending social justice clubs in 2010 than in 2008. If I am committing myself to some statistical error, someone please let me know, but by averaging the fractions (percentages) of girls in these clubs in both years, you will find that in 2010, 66.756 percent of club attendees were girls, whereas in 2008, that figure was higher, with 85.045 percent of club attendees being female. So, unless I am incorrect in what I did (which is not unlikely) there are, percentage wise, more males attending clubs recently than in 2008. Sarah also said that 71% of social justice club attendees in 2009 were female. So more males, by percent, have been attending social justice clubs each year since 2008. One might think that there would be fewer male attendees by percent in 2010, once you factor in the video game console. This is not so.
So, perhaps there would be even more male club attendees if not for the video games, but compared to 2008 and 2009, more males are going to social justice clubs. Judging by that, there has been more than a doubling of male attendees at such clubs since 2008, by percent.
Anyway, many of the males who regularly play video games in the lounge probably wouldn't attend a social justice club--ever. But compared to what this article implies, and compared to the data of 2008, good job boys; keep up the progress, guys! Ideally there would be something like an even distribution between males and females in these clubs, but beggars can't be choosers. This progress shouldn't be ignored.
What I might find more interesting is why females haven't been playing any video games (and in this I would like to hear from some girls; who can blame them for not playing video games in the lounge)?
Social Justice
As one of the two or three male members of the current Green Club, I'm glad that this is being given attention. However, from my experience, the main reason social justice clubs have such a skewed gender ratio is that a lot of guys simply aren't interested. There's no malice or ignorance about the subjects, but they aren't driven to attend. Perhaps other factors, such as fun experiences and involvement of friends, causes some specific club like Habitat for Humanity to be so successful, more than the club's purpose itself.
Also, the video game comparison is not really necessary. Even though the article didn't say much about them as the Fox News-esque title misled me to believe, there's nothing about them in particular that prevents interest in social justice. The article also says "only" 40% of gamers are female. That's fairly close to an even 50-50 split.
Nicely Done
Very nice work on this article, Sarah. It is apparent that you did a lot of research on the topic and I appreciate that you bring in sociological research to explain an anecdotal phenomenon. It has certainly been my experience that a "precipitating event"--like the Habitat trip to MS, or the experiences I had volunteering in Jamaica when I was in high school--play a significant role in developing a concern for social justice. Thanks for raising such an important issue.
First, let me say that I
First, let me say that I don't mean to attack your article with this comment.
Second, I agree with you, James, especially when you say this:
"While I don't think playing video games at school is a very good thing, I don't know if I would go so far as to say it is the reason boys aren't choosing social justice clubs."
While you mentioned some statistics, I don't think you can draw this conclusion -- it's much too far of a jump, especially when you take into account that the numbers are mostly from years when the video games weren't even in the lounge. I also think that your data from the Washington Post is irrelevant, 40% isn't a bad number, and personally I don't think it warrants an "only."
I just think this article sees a problem where there isn't one, and a lot of guys I've talked to are kind of upset about it. I think this is portraying them as "loser males who don't care about social justice because they've never been oppressed and they waste all their time playing video games instead of being worthwhile humans," and I think that's a little extreme.
Like I said, I don't mean to attack your article, I just think the argument could use some work. Feel free to reject the analysis if you want.
Lounge vs. clubs
Among upperclassmen, I definitely see a divide: guys playing video games in the lounge and girls either socializing or going to lunch meetings of various clubs and groups.
My only explanation is that the guys aren't mature enough to care about other people and devote themselves to a cause. Otherwise, I would think they could give up their games every once in a while and doing something helpful.
Agreed.
Agreed.
Yeah, because "girls
Yeah, because "girls socializing" is totally devoting themselves to a social cause. Ever stop and think that maybe playing video games is a form of socialization? Look in the lounge and about 4 guys in there are playing video games, that doesn't seem like a good reason to say that guys are immature and don't care about other people. You can't judge people based on what they do at lunch. Let guys play video games and let the girls "socialize". If you do a bit of research, I am sure you will be surprised to find that many people in our school are fully capable of helping others outside of the times 11:35-12:10, and many of those people do do that.
I'm sorry, but hating fun is
I'm sorry, but hating fun is not a prerequisite for caring about other people. I bet you go to movies sometimes? Well by your logic that's 2 hours that you should have spent volunteering.
strange claim
I think your article is well written but I'd like to disagree with Ms. Linder's claim that peer pressure plays a role with guys not going to clubs. Peer pressure is definitely not the main reason behind guys not going to clubs (if it is a reason at all). I am definitely offended that someone would suggest that I am not independent enough to make decisions for myself. I for one have never pressured any of my peers to not go to club, nor have I ever been pressured out of going to a club. It is ridiculous to just assume that all guys are incapable of making their own decisions due to the fact that the same group of guys plays video games during the lounge everyday. Don't lump all guys together in the same boat just cause it is the easy thing to do. I don't even play video games during lunch or free periods. I have never even heard of a case where one guy has dissuaded another guy from going to a club. I personally don't think it is worth me going to a club if I don't identify with the cause. I think that it is disingenous to go to a club just for the sake of having a resume booster. I may not be as socially proactive as I should be, but at the same time I do not hold their causes in disdain. In fact I'd probably go to more clubs if I actually knew when they were. (I might also add that club meeting emails get lost in a sea of generic college emails that both upperclassmen guys and girls get swamped with.) One cause that might actually affect a guy's decision-making is if that guy is feeling a little worn-out from school. Perhaps some guys just want some down-time so they can chill out; and lunchtime provides just that. Uni afterall, is notorious for giving loads of homework. Maybe lunch isn't the best time to host a club meeting and that's why some people are so keen on having uni period. Some clubs have been taking advantage of this time-slot to have club-relatied activities then. While their are a myriad of causes that may ultimately contribute to why guys may not seem as socially active as their female counterparts, peer pressure is definitely not one of them. High school males may not be held in high-esteem for their decision making skills but it would be narrowminded to assume that the majorityof us can't make decisions for ourselves. A good article nonetheless, it brings up mostly valid points.
You can do social work outside of Uni in case you were wondering
Overall, I find it offensive that people make such rash character judgments based on attendance to clubs at Uni. It may come as a shock to many, but there are actual things that people do outside of Uni that helps other people. And not once have I found myself saying "nah, i would rather play video games than go to the soup kitchen". Saying that "guys aren't mature enough to care about other people and devote themselves to a cause" simply because we don't choose to go to a club at Uni is laughable. Very well written article, I guess I just disagree with a few points. I find some of the comments a bit more offensive.
Thank you!
This brought up a point that I want to back up. Speaking as someone who is constantly swamped by work and responsibilities, it's nice to have a time with my friends where I can just talk, relax, and enjoy myself. After all, what's the point of a friendship without actually socializing? The reason I have little time anymore to socialize outside of school is that between homework, theater, madrigals, church, family, ASP (Appalachia Service Project, woah a community service project), packaging food at empty tomb (woah! there's another one!), and writing these lovely articles for the gargoyle, I'm lucky to have enough time to see my friends for a movie once a week. Having that small amount of time to just have fun is one of my few joys in a stress filled school day. The fact is that some of these commenters are assuming that what they see of us at school is all we ever do, which is both silly and offending. Assuming that we aren't applying ourselves just because you don't see us do it makes us feel like we must win your approval to become part of civilized human society. I'm just sick of feeling judged because I choose to talk to my friends and have a few laughs. I'm glad you want to spend 35 minutes talking about improving the world, but don't think it gives you the right to judge me.
Good point, video games
Good point, video games don't even factor into it for most guys. Count up all the guys who play games at lunch and I doubt that number is anywhere near the number of guys not participating in clubs.
Also
Also I might add that one does not necessarily have to be in a club to be making a difference in the community. Maybe some guys take part in community service that has no affiliation with any school clubs? Maybe that guy already feels like he is doing his part in actively making the world a better place. Being a club member doesn't neccesarily mean anything. I know plenty of people who really could care less about whatever their club does and are just their so they can put that down as a resume booster; to me that is even worse than not being in a club. Plenty of people make contribution to society in more subtle ways. For example, together small things like mowing an elderly neighbor's lawn or listening to a friend vent make a huge difference. Small things add up and collectively, it is actions like these that speak volumes about character and make the world a better place. I may not be in a club but as an individual I am a morally upstanding person who does not need to be in a club to know that I am making a difference in the lives of people around me. How's that for immaturity?
>implying that attending
>implying that attending lunchtime clubs is a prerequisite for social advocacy
Seriously, though. When I was at Uni I never went to a "social justice club", but spent multiple hours almost every week volunteering with my church or Empty Tomb. Consider that although guys may not spend their school lunch hour in a social justice club, their time may be well spent outside of school. Don't judge until you know the person.
let's remember...
Sarah is not judging anyone- I appreciate that she stated the facts: More girls attend social justice clubs than guys. Guys are defending themselves by saying they volunteer more outside school- and girls don't? For the most part, kids at Uni, regardless of gender, have the same workload and busy schedule. So why is it that girls can find the time to attend social justice clubs?
Another point: I think it's also true that the clubs guys generally go to are gaming clubs, Pokemon for example. You can't say you don't have time for clubs if you're attending a gaming club. What makes social justice less important and worthy of your school time?
How are video games to blame for this?
First of all, I've checked out a couple of clubs at Uni, felt like I was wasting my time, and left. Instead I volunteer outside of Uni because I would rather directly help people than to help them in some vague way that boosts my resume.
More importantly, though, why are video games being singled out? Because video games are the least popular and least accepted form of entertainment/art. I see no similar article here about "Are books keeping boys from volunteering?" or "Are movies keeping boys from volunteering?" There is a stigma about video games that has been created because they didn't really exist before the idea of the blockbuster. The only games that people see in, for example, ads, are some of the lowest common denominator type of stuff, and so they assume all video games are like that.
Playing a good story-driven video game is as worthwhile as reading a good book or watching a good movie. Playing a good multi-player competitive game is as worthwhile, at least in terms of socialization, not in terms of exercise, is as worthwhile as playing a pick-up game of basketball or soccer, and as fun.
While it's true that there are more "gamer" guys than girls, it's constantly becoming more even as games become more mainstream. There are more games marketed towards to guys than girls. It doesn't help that a lot of guys, most of the guys at uni, I would say, are elitist about their games and if they even consider letting a girl play, they make sure she hates it by not teaching her properly. Just like you would probably be turned off to reading a book without ever having read before, although with games the learning curve is to a lesser extent.
There may still be an issue of getting guys to volunteer or join clubs, but the need to demonize video games is unnecessary and unrelated. I also know there are plenty of girls at uni who play video games, usually less socially though, and I don't think it would be going out on a limb to say that that has something to do with the stigma associated with video games.
tl;dr version:
-The games you see people playing together at school are inherently social.
-Games don't stop you from volunteering any more than movies or books do.
-Games are not only for guys.
-If people are playing games instead of volunteering they don't want to volunteer for that club, because the point isn't what the people are doing instead, it's that they're not volunteering. If there weren't games they'd be not volunteering doing something else.
-Personally I've never felt that I was helping much at uni's clubs, although I don't know why a girl would feel differently.
supporter, if you are saying
supporter, if you are saying that all guys who don't go to social justice clubs sponsered by schools are not using their time properly, then i will have to thoroughly disagree and say you are very narrowminded.