Game Changers | Dhayana Sena

GamesIndustry.biz Sport Changers is a sequence of profiles on the teams and people going the additional mile to make the video games business a greater place. These interviews embody of us from around the globe serving to to enhance situations and attitudes in the direction of range, fairness, inclusion, accessibility, psychological well being and extra. You possibly can learn extra Sport Changers interviews right here.

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Dhayana “MissDeusGeek” Sena describes herself as a multimedia content material creator, popular culture fanatic, and variety advocate.

Based mostly out of Australia, Sena explains to GamesIndustry.biz that her work to uplift ladies and missed communities grew from her pursuits in gaming and expertise.

In 2018, Sena established Women of Xbox, an unofficial international group of feminine recreation followers and professionals. It started as a Twitter account supporting and highlighting feminine gaming followers.

It has since expanded to a number of social media accounts and a Discord server, with the group boasting greater than a thousand members. There’s additionally a Girls of Xbox web site that includes interviews with ladies who work in video games and gaming content material creation work.

The extra time Sena spent as a recreation content material creator in Australia and New Zealand, the extra she noticed the representational disparities.

The house, she says, is a really white and male-dominated subject and spurred her to broaden the character of her work.

“I work loads with younger ladies to point out them {that a} profession in video games is viable”

“A number of the work I do now has shifted to being extra about bringing underrepresented voices collectively, amplifying them, and serving to them understand that they too might be on this house,” Sena explains.

“I work loads with younger ladies to point out them {that a} profession in video games is viable. To allow them to pursue profession paths in video games.”

In reality, Sena explains that the proudest work she’s finished on this subject was a ladies’ gaming occasion in 2018.

“They have been school-aged ladies, and [you would] see them mild up and get tremendous excited that they discovered one other woman taking part in video video games. [Then] they spent the entire two hours taking part in video games collectively, laughing, and having time.”

The night was impactful as a result of it helped younger ladies see that they’d friends and will take pleasure in hobbies.

She provides, “The youthful technology felt like themselves and felt empowered to do what they love doing.”

For younger ladies, she notes, “Generally it is so simple as simply letting younger ladies know that it is okay to play video video games.”

With that in thoughts, Sena works with firms and types to assist them showcase totally different people, which ends up in having a roster of expertise that’s extra inclusive throughout the board.

“I’ve seen that making an attempt to get manufacturers to work with folks of colour was difficult”

She notes that Australia’s gaming house is small in comparison with the US or UK as a result of its inhabitants measurement, and DEI work for gaming is usually a extra vital problem as a result of fewer persons are concerned.

“For a very long time up till this 12 months, I’ve seen that making an attempt to get manufacturers to work with folks of colour was difficult. You barely see folks of colour in any promoting or advertising and marketing,” she explains.

“Clearly, in North America, there is a massive push to see extra of that, so [you’ve seen] extra folks of colour in promoting and advertising and marketing in any main campaigns [than here] for a really very long time.”

Sena expounds, “That is the problem that we’ve right here; whereas there’s much more deal with being extra various, there’s nonetheless a whole lot of work that must be finished. [Most] of time folks have a look at range, as, ‘Oh we simply want extra ladies.’

“Nevertheless, [companies and brands] overlook that folks from totally different backgrounds, races, and ethnicities exist. They even overlook that individuals who recreation are disabled, and there must be that push for accessibility.”

She provides, “It makes my work much more essential as a result of [I can say], ‘Hey, there’s this entire group of individuals you possibly can work with right here.'”

Sena explains that when working with firms, it is also essential that their values match these of her group.

“I do not wish to align my group with any group or model that is not open to being inclusive,” she mentioned.

“If we find yourself working with a magnificence firm that assessments on animals, for instance, to me, that does not match with the values of making an attempt to be good and [making] the world a greater place. What that does is give validation to that model to maintain testing on animals.”

Moreover, Sena notes that if an organization is making energetic modifications in response to previous points, she could be prepared to work with them.

Sena has acquired recognition for her work in gaming, such because the function of Xbox Ambassador. Whereas gaining accolades is sweet, she has seen them primarily as paths to creating alternatives to assist her group.

“Being a group champion implies that I get to work very carefully and straight with a really open and welcoming group. So it is good to share these awards as a result of it reveals folks they do it as properly,” she mentioned.

“It opens doorways not solely with Xbox however different manufacturers and proves to them that this work is clearly significant.”

Gaining extra credentials has additionally helped her work as a DEI advocate and content material creator. After turning into an Xbox Ambassador, she now has a direct line of communication with folks she did not have entry to years in the past.

Wanting forward for the 12 months, she plans to create a group to assist the model group since elevating and advocating for marginalized communities is a whole lot of work.

“It is essential to have totally different voices within the decision-making group”

After taking a break, Sena additionally intends to revitalize and develop the Girls of Xbox.

She notes, “There isn’t any I in group, and every time you will have these [different] communities and organizations, it is essential to have totally different voices within the decision-making group.”

“I do not get every little thing proper; I am all the time conscious that I make errors, too. I wish to make sure that the group is various and has totally different voices to allow Girls of Xbox to thrive.”

Sena provides that she intends to do extra panels for range advocacy, not simply from gaming however for different profession fields.

“Faculties that are actually open to listening to folks discuss concerning the significance of getting various folks in STEM. For instance, ladies in STEM are such an enormous factor right here. So [I’m] making an attempt to work with faculties and group schools to assist them [in those efforts to appeal to girls].”

She summarized the upcoming 12 months: “I believe giving again is what the principle theme of 2023 is for me. I have been the type of one that has been very fortunate within the assist I’ve gotten, so I would wish to pay that ahead.”