Game critic Anita Sarkeesian took part in Ideas at the House’s All About Women event at the Sydney Opera House this week, and was one of several women on the “What I Couldn’t Say” panel, explaining how online harassment from Gamergate has prevented her from expressing her true emotions.
It’s a powerful speech – too often Sarkeesian has been denied the opportunity to express the fear and anger she has felt during the last three years, after becoming the target of a hysterical collection of misogynist, emotional humunculi who somehow think criticism of their hobby is censorship:
What I couldn’t say is “fuck you”, to the thousands of men who turned their misogyny into a game. A game in which gendered slurs and death and rape threats are weapons used to take down the big bad villain, which in this case, is me.
…
I couldn’t say “I’m angry” … I am angry, in fact I’m furious. I’m angry that we live in a society where online harassment is tolerated, accepted and excused. Where web services and law enforcement are not taking responsibility for the abuse that women suffer every day online. I’m angry that I’m expected to accept online harassment as the price of being a woman with an opinion.
Watch the full video above.
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