Game Over For Fair Pay: Study Reveals Shocking Gender Pay Gaps, And This Is The Worst Paid State

On International Women’s Day, a recent study highlights the concerning gender pay gaps experienced by women working in game development.

In Alaska, for instance, female game developers face significant disparities, earning just 60.6% of what their male counterparts make.

This translates to women in this field effectively working without pay for about 39.4% of the year, equating to 103 days, with payment ceasing as early as Sept. 19.

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Conducted by DesignRush, the study draws on data from the U.S. Census Bureau, revealing a national average where women in game development earn 84.2% of men's salaries, amounting to approximately 41 days of unpaid work annually.

Similar trends are observed in states such as North Dakota, Delaware, Mississippi, and Arkansas, where women may experience unpaid work as early as October.

Conversely, South Dakota boasts the smallest pay disparity, with female developers earning 99.1% of their male counterparts' wages, resulting in them working without pay starting from Dec. 29.

In Idaho, this begins slightly earlier, on Dec. 21, with a 3.8% pay gap.

Meanwhile, in Connecticut, female developers stop receiving payment on December 16, as they earn 94.3% of men's wages. These disparities are not isolated incidents but reflect a larger pattern of marginalization and exploitation.

2020 statistics from the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) paint a stark picture: globally, 71% of game developers are men, with women comprising just 24%, and 3% identifying as non-binary.

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Image credits: africa_pink on Shutterstock.