Minister of Justice Delroy Chuck recently dismissed thorny issues surrounding Jamaica’s #metoo awakening with a chuckle. For the country’s eSports community, like many caught in the awkward but important moment of reckoning, the issue is no laughing matter and never as straight forward.
Sexual harassment is very much a big issue among professional gamers.
Recently, victims of the crime in the gaming community recounted their #metoo tragedies on Twitter and other social media platforms.
Claims ranged from ‘LovinDaTacos’ holding a girl hostage until she agreed to kiss him to gaming freelancer, Ginny Woo, being accused of abusive behaviour and grooming (for which she later apologized for on Twitter).
Some, like Omeed Dariani faced repercussions. He resigned as the CEO of the Online Performers Group (a top industry talent agency) after claims came out about him implying that “sleeping around was the way to get ahead.”
Companies have since disassociated themselves with many gamers. Twitch, a live streaming service, reminded the game community that it is also taking claims seriously.
Sashaun Bailey, a competitive gamer in Jamaica, believes the major issue stems from the fact that society is set up for people in power to take advantage of those who aren’t but there are always two sides to every story.
“The #metoo movement is a double-edged sword with a lot of complications. There is no doubt that terrible acts of sexual assault on many levels are committed in various industries throughout the world. The way society is structured- it just allows people in power to take advantage of those who have none,” she said.
But on the flip side: “This is a huge issue and more occurs than you think, however, there are those who use this movement to take advantage of innocent situations, simply for attention, pity and sympathy and more.”
Sasahun strongly believes that some of the girls in cases where the #metoo movement has been abused should also be held accountable when it comes to light that there isn’t truth to their claims. She has, in an indirect way, claims to have been the victim of false accusations and innuendo.
While he has never been accused, Sashaun’s husband, Tri-Force, has had to deal with the suggestion that he sexually harasses girls from the couple’s eSports team. Empire Arcadia has a female division called ‘Valkyries of Arcadia’.
According to Sashaun, there have been rumours about her husband’s activities with the young women in the group simply because it is assumed that a man cannot be around as many women as the group employs without there being inappropriate behaviour.
“People wonder how he is around so many girls and nothing goes on … they prop up stories and say he has sex with his own girls ...”
“This is why I stepped forward to deal with the girls directly…so people can stop trying to create a #metoo situation on him. The more he is limited in dealing with the girls directly, the better off he is.”
She pointed to another incident where she believes the #metoo movement is used irresponsibility.
Sashaun referred to a situation where she had a player who she believed had a consensual intimate affair with a woman who later took to Twitter, calling Sashaun’s player a 'predator.'
“That's not a #metoo matter, that's a lovers spat which she is using the #metoo movement to victimize herself for public opinion and sympathy. This is dangerous and I know a lot of girls that do this to guys. It's really an ugly cycle on both sides.”
She also believes there is too much silence on the issue, in general.
“There is one way to cut down a lot of these other incidents and that’s for us ladies to come forward with a report,” she said
Like Sashaun, I believe victims and abusers alike have a responsibility in cauterizing the existence of sexual harassment in the workplace but I hasten to say, it is important that in speaking about the victim’s responsibility to speak up, we do not go into the realm of victim-blaming.
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