GENDER REPRESENTATION IN VIDEO GAMES

Requirement

Why is it important to examine race and gender in videogames? Make sure you use specific examples. Use a minimum of 2 sources.

Solution

GENDER REPRESENTATION IN VIDEO GAMES:-

INTRODUCTION:-

The video game has been considered a most important entertainment media in US and other countries. As per the association of entertainment software report sales of the video games and computer software's grew 7% more till 2007. A recent study shows that 92% of children play video games. In this assignment, we will study the importance of examining race and gender in video games. Video games in today scenario considered as a male dominated media. Research regarding the gender representation in video games focuses on important points of how women and men are depicted differently. 

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GENDER STEREOTYPES IN VIDEO GAMES:-

It was one of the earliest studies which examine stereotypical portrayals in video games. For evaluating the role of the women, it generalized four possible female stereotypes based on behavior or appearances which are: females in the role of feminine, females as sex objects, females as heroes or action and female as victims. As per the past study, it was found that 42% of the games were devoid of female characters.  (Shaw, 2012) Particularly focused on the appearance of the female characters where clothes are using as an indicator of sexuality. They measured three types of clothing which are sleeve clothing, lower body clothing or neckline. The research was conducted in the past by Waddell. He did an analysis of contents of 55 video games. In compared to the male characters, females were more represented in a hypersexual way. In addition, it is also concluded that there were more male playable characters than playable female characters. 

RACIAL STEREOTYPES IN VIDEO GAMES:-

In compared to the research on gender stereotyping, fewer studies have examined racial stereotyping in the video games. There can be several reasons behind this action. Some of the reasons behind it can be following:-

  • Avoidance of race representations consciously by the game producers.

  • Large time characters are created with vague or ambiguous ethnic characteristics.( Shaw,2012)

It is very difficult to tell the exact race of the characters. Minority ethnic groups like Black and Hispanic appears less frequently in video games. The analysis was conducted on the physical and object oriented world, style or narrative, leading characters. It was concluded by studying it in traditional mainstream media some stereotypes used portray characters of games.( Waddell,2014)

EFFECT OF GENDER REPRESENTATIONS IN GAMES:-

  • Effect on attitude towards gender: - A study conducted in 2008 concluded that males were playing more violent video games in comparison to females. This concept was negatively correlated with men's certainty in their judgments when presented with a scenario of sexual harassment selected mainly for its ambiguity.  Exposure related to the violent video games was correlated with attitude supportive of rapes. (Behm-Morawitz,2014)

  • Effect on children: - Video games have the potential capability to influence the thinking of the children’s and others. Despite it, video games also influence the youth. Characters of the different video games have the potential capability to shape perceptions of the players regarding a role of gender. Players learn societal expectations regarding appearances, behaviors, and roles by using a process of social comparison .Girls may feel that they are dependent victims, and their responsibilities include maintaining their sexual appeal or external beauty, while boys think that their role is to protect and defend women. Thus we can say that it has a significant impact on the perspectives of young individuals. 

CONCLUSION:-

After studying all this, we can conclude that women and ethnic minorities account for growing percentage of video game players in the USA or the other countries. The future of the video game industry basically depends on upon the ability of the industry to adapt different efforts related to the marketing to appeal to the growing female and racial markets. In contrary to these efforts advertisers reliance on stereotypes for the purpose of quickly establish a common understanding for a mass audience. This study helps us in conducting an investigation how gender and race intersect in the character of stereotypical depictions which was used to market different video games to consumers. Various literature and stereotyping were used here as theoretical guides for conducting an efficient research. After studied all this we can conclude that gender representations should be analyzed consciously.   

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REFERENCES:-

  • Shaw, A. (2012). Do you identify as a gamer? Gender, race, sexuality, and gamer identity. new media & society, 14(1), 28-44.

  • Waddell, T. F., Ivory, J. D., Conde, R., Long, C., & McDonnell, R. (2014). White Man’s Virtual World: A Systematic Content Analysis of Gender and Race in Massively Multiplayer Online Games. Journal For Virtual Worlds Research, 7(2).

  • Behm-Morawitz, E. (2014). Examining the intersection of race and gender in video game advertising. Journal of Marketing Communications, 1-20.

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