Feminist Video Game Critic Driven Out Of Her Home By Death Threats From Gamers

[KitSileya]

7. In addition, it is the anger of an 'underdog' being criticized by those considered beneath him.

'Nerds' consider themselves underdogs, and they like knowing that there are others who have less status than them, women. At the same time, they feel threatened by women, who can do what they do just as well as they do. It threatens their perceived superiority in the few areas where they think they are superior. When women point this out, it engenders a vituperative hatred out of all proportions.

I think it is the same mechanism as when many poor or lower-class white people look at black people - they are lower in status, and any black person that succeeds is a threat to them, and must be attacked, verbally, or physically if they get the chance to do it without risk, such as with Darren Wilson.