As this popularized trading card game continues to rise in recognition, uneven demographics are a topic that need to be discussed. Magic the Gathering is a card game involving strategic conflicts and special, individualized card decks. While this game is all about strategy, it is also all about bringing people together; hence the title of ‘the Gathering’. Stemming inspiration from the hit game Dungeons and Dragons, this game reaches a specific demographic that tends to include more of the male audience. Game designer Mark Rosewater himself stated that only 38% of Magic’s player base is female. While this is not inherently a bad thing, the game requires a lot of the skillsets women statistically perform well in. According to a Harvard Business Review, women outrank men in the areas of problem-solving and practicing self-development. Magic the Gathering focuses heavily on both, requiring skill when it comes to building an esteemed deck and playing the most appropriate cards at the right times. While the player base may not be predominantly female, this game holds the potential to empower women to showcase their unique, outstanding abilities
Why less women play
Many of the women that are already involved in the playing of this game have expressed their distaste for the way they have been treated and ostracized by the larger fanbase community. Many local game stores will go to great lengths to try and make their female customers feel appreciated, yet it is often taken in a more passive, less appreciative manner. For example, store owners may host female-only Magic games and events, but many female players have expressed that these events make them feel like they stand out in a more negative way than the event organizers intended. It makes them feel separated and as if they can’t just be treated as “another player”. Many women have expressed they would much prefer no special treatment, allowing them to focus on the skill of the game rather than the gender differences of the people they play with, yet many male players make this difficult by passing unfair judgment on female players regardless of their skill.
Why More Women Should Get Involved
As previously mentioned, Magic the Gathering highlights skillsets that women are particularly high performing in. Putting their skills to the test through building an effective deck and quick-witted gameplay is a great way for women to feel empowered in their abilities. Learning the ins and outs of Magic the Gathering brings people together, and playing this game would greatly help promote the knowledge that women are equal to men in a community that tends to show large amounts of prejudice. Embracing women within the individual gameplay circles is a great first step in bringing a larger female audience to the center of this intricate and immersive multiplayer game. Women are deserving of representation and acceptance in the world of fantasy gameplay, and their involvement could bring newer perspectives and improve the overall experience of the game.
How Women Can Get Involved
Many local game stores will host Magic events that are a great way for women to start and get involved in their local communities. There are also opportunities to play online, which can be a great way for beginners to work on developing their skills before meeting up with other people in person. Taking the time to research building a deck as well as talking to more experienced players prove to be great resources for helping beginners build their confidence. When getting started, women should remind themselves that they are more than capable of learning everything there is to know about this game. Beginners should look for communities that value every individual player regardless of gender or skill, and should focus on their unique value as an individual while learning how to apply their distinctive skillsets in their gameplay.