As major tech companies roll back diversity initiatives, developers from marginalized backgrounds face increased scrutiny and harassment online. One case highlighted is that of Ashley Poprik, who experienced severe online trolling and threats after being misidentified as a trans woman involved in creative decisions on video games. Despite no involvement in character design, Poprik received no support from employers amid this harassment, illustrating a deeper issue within the gaming industry where marginalized developers often feel isolated. This environment raises concerns about safety and inclusion in an already struggling industry.
Poprik describes themself as having androgynous features, noting, 'A big narrative spun up that I was a trans woman, and so I was getting hate from any alt-right winger.'
Poprik stated, 'When a marginalized dev is harassed, they're on their own,' revealing the lack of support from companies during their ongoing harassment.
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