1/ My name is Rachel (she/her), and I worked at @insomniacgames from 2006 to 2010 as a Tools/Core programmer. If you have read his post, I am the woman that @andybrk is referring to in his story, which he shared with my permission. [ https://twitter.com/andybrk/status/1276203030556241920]

2/ Over the past week, some brave femmes and non-binary people have come forward to share the hard truths of corporate sexism and sexual harassment that permeate Insomniac Games, including protecting abusive men. [ https://twitter.com/wuffles/status/1275481914200092672]

3/ I was dismayed to read @insomniacgames response “We’re a family! What problem? No problems here!”, as this was not my experience working there. [ https://twitter.com/insomniacgames/status/1275500210970451969]

4/ @insomniacgames, and anyone reading this, when you say “We are a workplace family” whether you intend it or not, the impact of that statement is manipulative. It implies “don’t hurt your family!” and guilts vulnerable members into compliance/silence.

5/ The "we're a family" rhetoric prioritizes protection of abusers in the name of preserving the status quo.

And “actively promoted diversity… equality… for our entire existence” has not been my experience nor the collective experience of vulnerable individuals I worked with.

6/ Recruited from an East coast studio as a rockstar, as an applicant, I set the bar for both speed and efficiency in my programming test. My results were used to judge subsequent applicants. Yet during negotiation, HR would not meet the rate recommended by my soon-to-be director

7/ It was not until over a year later when @andybrk handed me a post-it note with my rate increase that I even knew about the pay disparity.

8/ In addition to being underpaid, femmes were constantly made to feel small. I personally experienced microaggressions, humor at femme expense, gaslighting, was silenced in meetings, and other things common to the femme experience in games. Things baked into the game dev culture

9/ My team wasn’t perfect, I know that they cared for me and did their best at the time to insulate me. That said, I am still grateful for them and genuinely believe that if they heard me speak with the voice I have now, they have grown and would course correct.

10/ Despite my team’s protection, I also experienced harassment from people outside of our department. We saw many talented women get repeatedly shot down for innovative ideas and demoted until they felt they had to leave.

11/ To be clear, there was no help or support for femmes to be found in HR or above. People who would protect abusers and toxic men at the expense of femmes. Even hosting events that promoted "boys club culture", like sexy bartenders at company happy hour.

12/ If it were not for advocates like @andybrk, I wouldn't have remained at the company. After he left my career stalled out, much like what others have shared. I was passed over for promotion by my peers. My request, as the only woman on our team, to attend GDC was denied.

13/ My overall experience at @insomniacgames was so bad that not shortly after I resigned in 2010, I quit programming altogether.

14/ In my exit interview I was told in no uncertain terms of a “handshake agreement” between studios to “prevent poaching”. If my resume turned up at @Naughty_Dog or nearby studios, Insomniac would get a call. Intimidated out of the industry whether I was ready to leave or not.

15/ I stand in solidarity with the many vulnerable people who have been harmed over the years. I stand with the brave individuals who have come forward to share their experiences at @insomniacgames. I believe you. We believe you. We are you.

16/ @insomniacgames, this moment needs more than a defensive response on social media. What we experienced was deep, systemic, and toxic. This moment needs a public commitment toward meaningful action, and transparent re-vamp of Insomniac's culture, management, and HR department.