investiGaming - Research Findings on Gender and Games

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investiGaming is a publication of the Serious Game Design group in the Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies, and Media at Michigan State University, 2007-2009

This gateway is partially supported by grant 0631771 from the National Science Foundation.

The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not represent Michigan State University or the National Science Foundation.

Video Games as Technologies of Gender: Analyzing Final Fantasy Forums

Author: Yosmeer, Mirjam, Jansz, Joreon, and Yan Zoonen, Liebet
Date: 2006
Source: International Communication Association Conference, Germany
Full Text Link:

http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p92251_index.html

Synopsis:

An analysis of postings that contained some sort of gender-performance from online forums concerning the RPG Final Fantasy X-2.

Keywords:

conference, case study, gaming culture, gaming social context, internet use, feminine, masculine, Final Fantasy X-2, fandom

Abstract:
Media researchers have identified a range of mass media as ‘technologies of gender’. This term indicates that gender identities and gender discourse are constructed out of the language, practices and behaviours of daily life. In this paper we explore the meaning of videogames as technologies of gender. Videogames and videogame culture are generally seen as being connected to masculine preferences and we are interested in finding out what this means for both male and female gamers. We have looked at discussions on online forums concerning the RPG Final Fantasy X-2 and made a qualitative analysis of postings that contained some sort of gender-performance. We found that Final Fantasy X-2 can be a starting point for discussions about the meaning gamers attribute to male and female gender performances. They discuss the ways boys and girls should look, how they should dress and how they should behave, and we therefore conclude that videogames can indeed function as technologies of gender. Also, at least on the forums concerning this particular game-title, we found that the issue of male dominance is no longer as strict as in other fields of videogame culture.

Implications for Game Industry:
No Implications have been written for this entry.

Research Highlights:
- Male and female gamers used videogames and the discussions on game-forums to think and talk about the meaning they attribute to male and female gender performances.
- Women participated actively in the (forum) discussions as well. We found that girls apparently had no problems to keep up with this alleged boy-culture and were not afraid to make themselves heard when boys engage in sexist language and comments.
- Postings discuss the ways boys and girls should look, how they should dress and how they should behave.
- The issue of male dominance is no longer as strict as in other fields of videogame culture.