Women Join the Arcade Revolution (Electronic Games, May 1982)

In May 1982, American gaming magazine Electronic Games published a cover story on the rise of “lady arcaders.” The article, titled “Women Join the Arcade Revolution,” suggests that women were beginning to take part in what had “traditionally been a male hobby”: playing video games.

Women have officially arrived in the world of electronic gaming. They’re not just there for decoration, either […] Who are these lady arcaders?”

Articles about the rise of women and girls in gaming have been appearing in print for decades, a fact that itself raises interesting questions. This early example is interesting and gives some insight into the anxieties and hopes around future of gaming as seen from the early 1980s. You can read the entire article in PDF format at the Internet Archive.

by Rachel Weil on Sunday, Aug 2, 2015