More than 70 people in the gaming industry, most of them women, have come forward with allegations of gender-based discrimination, harassment and sexual assault since Friday. The outpouring of stories from competitive gamers and streamers, who broadcast their gameplay on platforms like Twitch for money, led to the resignation of the C. Now, some are optimistic that real change could come. The women posted their allegations, including nonconsensual touching, propositioning for sex and harassment, on Twitter using their streamer handles. The streamers did not provide their legal names to The New York Times.

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It was a scene that made many cringe, but it signaled a transformation in the television landscape. Some of this is a result of technological changes. New streaming services, not bound by industry rules and norms, are taking bigger risks, such as the Amazon show Transparent about a middle-aged father coming out as transgender. And the growing number of platforms is making room for a more diverse array of writers on shows like Girls , Transparent and How to Get Away With Murder. This new generation of dramatists is disposing of the straight, often white male point of view and approaching sex from the female, gay or trans perspective.


Dozens of Women in Gaming Speak Out About Sexism and Harassment
Over the weekend, a trickle of sexual harassment stories surrounding influential figures in the streaming world grew into a tidal wave. More than 50 streamers, most of them women, shared dozens of stories that have already produced vast reverberations, including the resignation of the head of one of the biggest management firms in all of streaming and the departure of over 20 streamers in his wake. In response, some streamers are boycotting the platform altogether today and refusing to stream. High-profile streamers have been accused, often by multiple women, of patterns of inappropriate behavior up to and including sexual assault.



There was a time in film and TV when nudity and sexual content was non-existent. There were even times when a married couple would be depicted as sleeping in separate beds. A lot has changed since the beginning of TV.