PhD student Julie Prescott feels this is the result of demanding hours. 450 were surveyed. Better childcare and workplace structures ‘needed’.
It was the British Sociological Association who highlighted results from University of Liverpool’s PhD student Julie Prescott, who had surveyed 450 women in the industry. 43 percent claimed their lives had been negatively impacted by their work hours.
32 percent say they push past 45 hours a week, 22 percent between 46 and 55 hours, and 10 percent claim in excess of 56 hours. Of the women 79 percent did not have children and 69 percent were under the age of 35.
”Reasons given for intending to leave the industry tended to suggest women are dissatisfied with their organisations and working environment,” noted Prescott.
”Flexible working practices would not only improve the image of the industry as a family-friendly working environment, but could also assist in retaining more women, especially women with or considering having children.”
”Changing workplace structures, as well as improving childcare provisions would enable both genders to have active careers.” It’s unlikely to shock many that women are grossly outnumber in the videogames industry, but is it really just 4 percent in the UK?
Team 17’s Martyn Brown reckons it’s not just the long hours. ”Most major studios have certainly got their act together in this regard,” said the studio boss. ”I’d also wager that there are much more women involved in casual, social, web, online game development than ‘core gaming’ studios, which I imagine were the basis of the survey.”
