Communications in Humanities Research ISSN: 2753-7072
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Research Article

Video Games and Gender Equality: How Has Video Gaming Become a Men’s Privilege?

Ruiqi PanUniversity of Illinois Urbana-Champaign*

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract

Gender norms and gender exclusion in video games are worth discussing. Based on previous research on video games and gender equality, the article investigates how video gaming excludes female participation and becomes a male privilege. Understanding segregation is crucial because numerous video games today still feature misrepresentations of women despite the ongoing feminist movements that strive for equal rights. This article found that the video game industry was established by a male workforce that designed games to appeal to a male-centric market, thus the female voice is left out from the beginning. Women in contemporary video games are portrayed through the lens of male desire in which females are sexualized, powerless, and subordinate. They are excluded from the male-centric structure because of sexualization, sexual harassment, and workplace segregation. An optimistic vision of the future is also discussed due to the emergence of female voices in the gaming industry.

Keywords: Gender norms and gender exclusion in video games are worth discussing. Based on previous research on video games and gender equality; the article investigates how video gaming excludes female participation and becomes a male privilege. Understanding segregation is crucial because numerous video games today still feature misrepresentations of women despite the ongoing feminist movements that strive for equal rights. This article found that the video game industry was established by a male workforce that designed games to appeal to a male-centric market; thus the female voice is left out from the beginning. Women in contemporary video games are portrayed through the lens of male desire in which females are sexualized; powerless; and subordinate. They are excluded from the male-centric structure because of sexualization; sexual harassment; and workplace segregation. An optimistic vision of the future is also discussed due to the emergence of female voices in the gaming industry.
Published: September 14, 2023
DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/6/20230045
Volume: CHR Vol.6
pp. 37-44
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