Resources for Awareness and Education Surrounding Sexual Assault/Harassment in Streaming and Gaming.
Content Warning: Sexual Assault/Harassment
There are systemic issues of sexual assault, harassment, and abuse of power present in the live streaming and gaming industry that people need to be aware of.
This document will serve as a resource to spread awareness and educate. Please share it with your communities and on your platforms so that together, we can make a change.
Background
“Gamers began sharing their stories after a Twitter user who posts as Hollowtide tweeted about an unnamed “top” player of the online game Destiny on Friday night, referring to the person as a “scum lord.” Three female streamers, JewelsVerne, SheSnaps and SchviftyFive, saw the post and decided to come forward about their experiences with the gamer in question, who is known online both as Lono and SayNoToRage. The women posted their allegations, including nonconsensual touching, propositioning for sex and harassment, on Twitter using their streamer handles.” - NY Times
The purpose of this document is to be a resource for people to learn more about why sexual assault and harassment is a huge problem not only in the gaming/streaming industry, but a global issue that we need to address head on. We need to make this world a better and safer place where victims of abuse shouldn’t be silenced and where abusers are held accountable for their actions.
Survivor Stories of Harassment/Abuse/Assault Within the Gaming Live-Streaming Industry
An article on Medium by @JessyQuil that collects and shares the vast amount of stories and experiences of survivors of sexual harassment, abuse, and assault in the gaming and live-streaming industry. For general information purposes only.
Read: https://link.medium.com/3tQHEF6pw7
What We Want From Twitch
Start holding your streamers accountable. Like, now. No more empty promises. We want to see a system that is swift, fair, and transparent.
#TwitchBlackout Demands
Twitter thread by @SirKatelyn bringing a call to action for the Twitch community to make Twitch aware of the abuse, racism, sexual harassment, assault, and rape present on the platform. Includes ways to spread awareness and participate as well as proposals for things that need to change on Twitch.
Read: https://twitter.com/SirKatelyn/status/1275453041223757825
Twitch Safety Support by Jambo
Google Doc by @PlayWithJambo with some proposed updates and changes to Twitch’s Safety Support/Tools with the purpose of improving the platform and making it safer.
Read: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ATQyvQnavHVQPtuyZ1eOQz4pAAFO0OqeIRlyncCcKNM/edit
Educational Resources
CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Sexual Violence Resources | Sexual Violence |Violence Prevention|Injury Center
A huge resource hub for factsheets, infographics, strategies and more discussing sexual violence in the United States and how we can understand and prevent it.
Systemic Sexism 101 | https://link.medium.com/8GqResA2y7
Medium article by @NinaVizz educating others on systemic sexism. To provide insight and clarification so that we can better understand and tackle it in society.
Videos to Watch on Stream
Understanding Consent - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raxPKklDF2k
*Please note this video is for Canada so the ages of consent listed at ~1:00 applies to Canadian residents.
Tea Consent - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQbei5JGiT8
Funny. Swearing warning.
Harassment in the Gaming World
From the documentary Gameloading: Rise of the Indies
TEDxYouth@AnnArbor: The Widespread Effects of Sexual Assault
Longer Videos
Let’s End the Silence Around Abuse: TED Talk playlist surrounding subjects of abuse
The Conversation Around Sexual Assault: TED Talk playlist
Media
DARVO (or how people try to escape accountability)
Risk and Protective Factors Infographic (courtesy of NSVRC: National Sexual Violence Resource Center)
A chart that maps out risk and protective factors to help understand them. This will ultimately increase the effectiveness of sexual violence prevention efforts at the societal, community, and individual/relationship levels.
Charities
Tiltify is a handy platform to raise money for charity while streaming. It’s free, includes an alert system, and is safe for all parties. Visit here for how to start fundraising through Tiltify.
RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)
RAINN is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization. They carry out programs to prevent sexual violence, helps urvivors, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.
Tiltify Link: https://tiltify.com/rainn
Website: https://www.rainn.org/
Joyful Heart Foundation
Joyful Heart is a leading national organization with a mission to transform society’s response to sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, and support survivors’ healing.
Tiltify Link: https://tiltify.com/joyful-heart
Website: http://www.joyfulheartfoundation.org/
Speak Your Silence
Speak Your Silence is focused on helping others realize their innate value and worth. Their mission is to help those affected by sexual abuse and assault move fowrad to live great lives.
Tiltify Link: https://tiltify.com/speak-your-silence
Website: https://speakyoursilence.org/
WAVAW (Women Against Violence Against Women) Rape Crisis Centre
WAVAW provides support services to survivors of sexualized violence who have shared experiences of gender marginalization: cis and trans women, Two-Spirit, trans and/or non-binary people. Advocates for social and systemic change through education, outreach and activism.
Tiltify Link: https://tiltify.com/women-against-violence-against-women-rape-crisis-centre
Website: https://www.wavaw.ca/
NO MORE
NO MORE is dedicated to ending domestic violence and sexual assault by increasing awareness, inspiring action and fueling culture change. Creates innovative campaigns, partnerships and tools that leverage the power of the media and collective action.
Tiltify Link: https://tiltify.com/no-more
Website: https://nomore.org/
NNEDV (National Network to End Domestic Violence)
NNEDV is a social change organization dedicated to creating a social, political, and economic environment in which violence against women no longer exists. They want to make domestic violence a national priority, change the way society responds to domestic violence, and strengthen domestic violence advocacy at every level.
Website: https://nnedv.org/
Refuge
Refuge is an independent, specialist charity that supports women fleeing domestic abuse and other forms of gender-based violence. We have been doing this work since 1971. Our specialist services now support around 6,500 women and children on any given day. Refuge ran the National Domestic Abuse Helpline in partnership with Women's Aid between 2003 and 2019, and has been running the Helpline as sole provider since 1 November 2019.
Website: https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/
Rape Crisis England & Wales
Rape Crisis England & Wales is the umbrella body for a network of independent Rape Crisis Centres. All our member Centres provide specialist support and services for victims and survivors of sexual violence.
Website: https://www.rapecrisis.org.uk/
Safeline
Established in 1994, Safeline is a specialised charity working to prevent sexual abuse and to support those affected in their recovery. This includes working with people whose mental health issues (manifesting for example as self-harming) suggest that they may be vulnerable to abuse.
Website: https://www.safeline.org.uk/
Action
Twitch UserVoice Feedback & Suggestion Form
Email: Please submit any general feedback to feedback@twitch.tv This inbox is monitored by the majority of Twitch’s product team.
Change Petition: Call For The CEO of Twitch To Take Action
Press
Dozens of Women in Gaming Speak Out About Sexism and Harassment
NYTimes - An article on the New York Times by Taylor Lorenz and Kellen Browning summarizing the events leading up to more than 70 people in the gaming industry coming forward with allegations of gender-based discrimination, harassment, and sexual assault.
Read: https://nyti.ms/3etDo5Y
NBC - Video game streaming platforms investigating allegations of sexual harassment
ArsTechnica - As streamers face harassment allegations, Twitch sees boycott threat https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2020/06/streamers-call-for-one-day-twitch-boycott-amid-harassment-allegations/
GameSpot - Twitch Issues Statement On Streamer Allegations While The Community Calls For A Blackout https://www.gamespot.com/articles/twitch-issues-statement-on-streamer-allegations-wh/1100-6478850/
Heavy - Twitch Looking into Dozens of Allegations of Sexual Misconduct Regarding Its Partners https://heavy.com/games/2020/06/twitch-sexual-harassment-assault-misconduct-streamers/
Forbes - Destiny 2’s Women Creators Lead A New ‘Me Too’ Moment Exposing Gaming Community Abuse https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2020/06/23/destiny-2s-women-creators-lead-a-new-me-too-moment-exposing-gaming-community-abuse/#4b257d67560f
Dexerto - CohhCarnage, Dodger, more leave OPG after CEO sexual harassment claims https://www.dexerto.com/entertainment/cohhcarnage-dodger-more-leave-opg-ceo-sexual-harassment-claims-1382755