Twitter asks: Where are female 'game creators?'

A question on Twitter helped spark two hashtags about women in the gaming industry One focuses on social issues, the other aims to connect like-minded women What advice do you have for those seeking a mentor, or looking to become one? Share your thoughts in the comments below or on CNN iReport (CNN) -- One simple question can push the start button for action, thanks in part to the viral nature of social media. Luke Crane, who says he works at Kickstarter and describes himself as a self-publisheof role-playing games, floated out a simple question on Monday evening: "Why are there so few lady game creators?" His quietly launched inquiry touched on a controversy that's been brewing for a long time. Women's role in the gaming industry is part of a greater conversation about gender roles and stereotypes in the scientific, techie and geek spheres. These fields are often said to be dominated by men. But are they really? As the discussion continued, participants organized the tweets with the #1ReasonWhy hashtag. Grievances were aired, issues were discussed, and the tag started getting more and more attention. Then, talk started turning into something more. The #1ReasonMentors hashtag popped up to help women interested in the video gaming industry to meet others who are working in the field, and vice versa. Here's a very abbreviated snapshot of the discussion: [View the story "#1ReasonWhy springs #1ReasonMentors to action for techie women" on Storify] . If you have trouble viewing this page, please visit Storify to see the post. After we at CNN saw this exchange taking place, we were inspired to share it with our reader community and keep the mentoring and leadership conversation going. Are you a female interested in the video game industry, or do you know someone who is? What female techies and geeks do you admire, and what qualities can best help a woman, or anyone, succeed? Do you have a mentor, or can you think of a good mentor for women interested in the video gaming world, or science and technology? And what suggestions do you have for those seeking a mentor, or for those who want to become mentors? Share your views in the comments area below or post your commentary on CNN iReport. You can find us on Twitter, too, via @cnnireport and @cnntech. if(typeof CNN.expElements==='object'){CNN.expElements.init();}