Critically Exploring the Position of Females in Gaming Culture
Abstract
Although video games are generally seen as mere entertainment or educational tools, according to Taylor (2006), they are in fact cultural products. Some scholars have used gender as an entry point to affirm this. Based on real-life unequal gender power relations, video games feature a heavy dose of white masculinity, creating a space that excludes women (Pham, 2007). In this context, it is said that (Flanagan & Booth, 2002; Shaw, 2010) the gendering of video games should be focused on, examined, and reflected upon. Therefore, this essay will critically analyse the position of women in gaming culture. It will first show how video games portray female characters in a way that appeals to stereotypes and is sexist. Subsequently, it will analyse the reasons for this phenomenon and make recommendations to improve it.
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.18686/mcs.v4i4.1524
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