Anita Sarkeesian in the Time 100

Time Magazine has included Anita Sarkeesian on their annual list of 100 most influential people. Sarkeesian is the only Titan/Pioneer/Artist/Leader/Icon (the categories for the Time 100) included for their work in gaming.  If you follow game news and don’t know who Anita Sarkeesian is by now… I don’t even.  Founder of Feminist Frequency, the video series Tropes vs. Women in Games, and one of GamerGate’s primary targets, Sarkeesian made the list for starting the gender equity conversation in gaming and not backing down/disappearing under a deluge of death threats, rape threats, stalking, and every conceivable form of social-media-centric terrorism.

“As her detractors grow increasingly unhinged, we have proof that her efforts are working.”

- Wil Wheaton, Time 100

By and large, the AAA industry’s response to either the deepening criticism of the medium or said criticism’s violent backlash has been… less than resounding.  But, this is coming right on the heels of Zoe Quinn speaking to Congress, the start of Crash Override Network, and Twitter CEO Dick Costolo’s recent(ish) promise for a change in policy to better protect Twitter’s users from abuse. Strides are being made in the right direction.

On being selected for the Time 100 list, Sarkeesian said:

 “I'm encouraged that our video series on the portrayal of women in video games is starting to have a tangible impact on the gaming industry at large.”