Our expending on merchandise means that capitalism loves gamers. I mean, you just need to see all the films, TV shows, merchandise associated. The boom on board games, plus all the information devoted to our hobbies including the creation of e-sports and the popularity of streamers.
Compared to what we have when we were younger, when a D&D book needed to be shared, now we live in a golden age for gamers of all kinds.
As for the stereotype, maybe the insistence tha women don't like games/comics/board games/nerd stuff have to do with the stereotype. But at this point, with men like Henry Cavil saying they do play games. And plenty of famous and hot actors openly saying that they game, it is clear that there are plenty of successful gamers. There are also women and girl gamers.
The only reason the "loser-Incel stereotype" is still there is because it is a reaction for nor being more welcomming to some demographics. If we were less forgiving with the gamers who are hostile to newcommers, then people would see that there are all kinds of gamers and that the "incels" are outliers. But if the first contact a girls have in multiplayers is sexual harashment, then no wonder she would speak badly of us. Or if a gay man is insulted while trying to just enjoy his game, no wonder he would get a bad image not just of the people who insulted him, but also of the people who stood by doing and saying nothing.
It is on us to improve the image of gamer by being better and more welcomming. And by speaking up when someone is an ashole to others.
But the fact is that our hobbie is already heavily monetised. Any gamer bank account can prove it (microtransactions anyone? The new PS5? Subscriptions and new games?). And the people who earn money by farming have already proved that you can also earn money by playing. Or streamers.
We need to open our eyes: we never have had it better. From selection of products, to merchandise, to films and access to all kind of things.
There would always be people who critizice anything. That includes the list of supposedly acceptable hobbies. But in general terms, gamming is perfectly aceptable today. In some places is even cool.
And if at some point someone gives you shit, remind them that celebrities also are gamers.
