Does "Girl Gamer" Prejudice Exist?

[SassySnivy]

So lately this has come to my attention. Everywhere on the internet you see rage comics, comics, pics, anecdotes, and the like of how girl gamers have been shunned throughout the years. Even my friend has an anecdote of her own: she tried to buy a game (I'm wanting to think CoD or something like that but I'm not sure) at a Gamestop but the cashier apparently joked with her and said that she was "too pretty" to be playing such a game. She was pretty disgruntled at this, so the story could very well be skewed and the cashier could have actually just been kidding and not actually serious...or not.

What I don't understand is that in all my years of playing video games, I have never come across any game store employee or guy I've talked to about video games to even acknowledge the gender difference / stereotype. So what I'm wondering is this: is the "Girl Gamer" stereotype that goes on about how girls are teased and harassed for their hobby (and I'm talking about legit gamers, not like those photos of *****s posing sexually with controllers that you tend to see here and there) actually true? Or is it just heavily exaggerated upon. Have I just not been questioned because I don't play what most people consider "manly" or "more masculine" games? Even taking this question into consideration though, I often have semi-lengthy conversations with game store (particularly GameStop) employees about this Nintendo game or that one, like Pokemon or Mario Kart or something. In other words, I like to discuss certain games with said employees and geek out about them...but it's not a one-sided conversation. They seem to be just as interested in the game that I'm discussing, or at least somehow knowledgeable on the topic.

Idk, maybe I just run into all the mature and genuine people that don't judge. I dunno.

Sorry about my wishy-washy wording. Let me know if I'm not clear on something. But for a tl;dr version: does this prejudice against girl gamers actually exist as prominently as its cracked up to be? Or is it heavily exaggerated upon? Because I cannot recall any time anything like this has happened to me. Minus, like, elementary school.

Obviously girls, guys, and inbetween are welcome to post their input. I just want to know what others think. Come to think of it, I know I'm gonna get answers from other girls for sure, but I'd also really like to see what other guys think too

I know that as the years pass this becomes less prominent and the prejudice becomes less, but even still....