«Female inclusion in Tibia: How can it be improved?»

In the last article of this section we discussed the fansites that you can visit created by tibian girls, spaces where you can share your gaming experiences with others who share the same hobbies. Tibia is a whole world in constant evolution, but what about the inclusion of women in the game? Although there are more and more women who are interested in the world of video games, there are still many barriers to entry and prejudices that hinder our participation. In our community, the female presence is visible, increasingly and thanks to the diverse and dedicated Tibian content creators, but is it enough?

First of all, it should be noted that the video game industry in general has been criticized for the lack of female representation. Women are often represented in a stereotyped or sexualized way, and we are relegated to secondary roles. And despite the fact that in our community you can find female characters of all kinds, including warriors and guild leaders. Female inclusion is not limited to the presence of these characters. It is also important to analyze the experience of tibian girls and how they feel in this space. Do they feel welcomed and respected? Or do they encounter barriers and discrimination? To answer these questions, it is necessary to pay attention to the community. Are there spaces where women can share their gaming experience and feel accompanied? Or are they forced to hide their gender to avoid harassment and discrimination? Are they given the same voice and vote as male players in making important decisions in the game?

Furthermore, Tibia developers have a great responsibility regarding the inclusion of women. Paying attention to the needs of Tibians, and taking steps to prevent harassment and sexism in the game. Although important steps have been taken, much remains to be done to ensure the creation of harmonious tibia spaces. It is necessary to pay attention to the Tibian experience of others and work to remove the barriers to become a part of the community and prejudices that still exist. Only then can it be ensured that there is a truly inclusive and diverse space.

Determining the problem is important, but what about the solutions? It is difficult to determine or give a specific one for a problem that exceeds the limits of our community and that is rooted in society itself. However, a certain level of «well-being» can be achieved by respecting the space and needs of the women who play. Beginning with the respect that we must have among ourselves, and ending with the respect that we must demand and foster in our fellow players.

Another important aspect to improve female inclusion in Tibia is education. It is important that players understand the relevance of diversity and gender equality, and how these issues can affect the gaming experience for women. Tibian developers and content creators can contribute to this education by including in-game resources that help players better understand these issues. It is also important to continue talking about these issues from the point of view of knowledge and put on the table everyday situations that Tibians experience, talk about how we feel and how we perceive things, in order to «go viral» the knowledge of the conquest of a feminine space in our community, always based on respect and positive debate, and thus neutralize possible negative situations that may arise.

Female inclusion is an important issue that requires the attention and action of the entire community, from developers to players. The creation of communities for female gamers and education on gender equality are some of the aspects that can contribute to a greater inclusion of women in the world of Tibia. Therefore, we invite all female Tibia players to be part of these communities and to be agents of change in the gaming world and we invite all Tibians to spread respect and acceptance of their guildmates and female friends.

Together we can create a more inclusive and diverse space for all gamers!