Post by BunnzoSteel in Mum Chums comments

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This sounded like a cute idea, I started reading the rules and got to

"At least half of the characters must be cis-gender women." I was honestly stunned by this. There are many trans + non-binary people who are primary caregivers for their kids. There are tons of trans + non-binary people who play story-based RPGs.

The idea of a "cis quota" is baffling and offensive and will needlessly put people off of what might otherwise be a good game. I hope you will reconsider whether such a rule belongs in a game (it absolutely doesn't).

Tanya Floaker18 days ago (2 edits)

Thanks for giving Mum Chums a read.

I am transgender and a mum. I am the primary caregiver for my child. Talking with other trans parents, I have never heard of a class at a mainstream school with more than a couple of parents being trans. I get the impression that it is rare enough for any parent in a class cohort to be transgender.

It should also go without saying that if someone doesn't like a rule, they can do what they want.

However, as written, Mum Chums is a slice of life / kitchen sink drama about mainstream parenting spaces. The game is set to reflect this heteronormative (and to a far lesser extent homonormative) environment. Challenging aspects of parenting have been directly referenced rather than shied away from.

BunnzoSteel18 days ago(+1)

Thanks for your thoughtful reply!

I do think the game might be more welcoming to potential players if you provided a bit of context, like "the game is meant to reflect a mainstream environment and the challenges it presents, to this end it is suggested that at least half of the characters are cis women." The way it's worded now, I felt blindsided, it was literally one of the first things in the rules and I was confused by the intention behind it. A bit more context might make the game more accessible to trans audiences and provide perspective to other players.

It's likely I'm being a little thin-skinned about this but it has been a historically difficult week to be trans in the US and little things can matter a lot.

Anyway thanks again for your thoughtful comments, I wish you well on this project and your other endeavors!

Tanya Floaker18 days ago (4 edits) (+1)

I hear you. It is a really tough time, both here in the UK (where I am) and in the US (where my partner is based). Also, I'm hearing that different people will get different vibes from this rule.

With that in mind, I'll keep the rule as-is, but add in a note of context. Keep an eye out for the revised version later today.

Thanks for going into depth about how reading the game made you feel, and apologies for the unpolished presentation of the early version. I'm hoping our conversation has rebuilt some trust, and you'd like to give Mum Chums a go in the future.

itch.io

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