Anita Sarkeesian Explains The Truth About Gamergate To Stephen Colbert In Under 5 Minutes

Anita Sarkeesian Explains The Truth About Gamergate To Stephen Colbert In Under 5 Minutes

If you're confused about Gamergate, media critic and feminist blogger Anita Sarkeesian just simplified the controversy in less than five minutes.

Sarkeesian spoke with Stephen Colbert on "The Colbert Report" on Oct. 29 about the Gamergate controversy, which has brought to light the disturbing misogyny and harassment women are often subjected to in the video gaming world.

“I think women are perceived as being threatened because we are asking for games to be more inclusive," Sarkeesian told Colbert. "We’re asking for games to acknowledge that we exist and that we love games.”

Sarkeesian has been speaking out about the treatment of women in video game culture for years, but it wasn't until recently that she started receiving threats so violent that such harassment has ignited a public conversation. Sarkeesian has been forced from her home and has cancelled public appearances due to rape threats, death threats and even a bomb threat.

She explained to Colbert that Gamergate is “men going after women in really hostile, aggressive ways" and "terrorizing women for being involved in [the video game] industry.”

Towards the end of the clip, Sarkeesian clarifies that Colbert need not worry that feminism will scare off men from saving all those damsels in distress you see in video games, telling him, "Maybe the princess shouldn’t be a damsel and she could save herself."

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