Women and videogames

Part 1: Reading - Is Female Representation in Video Games Finally Changing?

Read this short Medium feature on whether female representation in videogames is finally changing. Answer the following questions:

1) How have women traditionally been represented in video games, and what percentage of the video game audience is female?

Traditionally, women in video games have often been portrayed in stereotypical and objectified roles, such as being damsels in distress or hypersexualised characters. For example, Princess Peach in the Super Mario Brothers franchise has been kidnapped in 13 out of 14 core games. This perpetuation of sexism and misrepresentation has been a longstanding issue. However, times are changing, and according to the "Distribution of Computer and Video Gamers in the United States from 2006 to 2017 by Gender" survey, 42% of the video game demographic is female, indicating a more diverse audience.

2) What recent games have signaled a change in the industry, and what qualities do the female protagonists offer?

In recent years, there has been a positive shift in the representation of women in video games. Games like Tomb Raider, Horizon: Zero Dawn, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, The Last of Us, Dragon Age: Inquisition, and The Walking Dead series have featured strong, independent, intelligent, wilful, and compassionate female protagonists or important characters. These games, released within the past five years, offer diverse and empowering representations of women. The shift suggests that game developers are making conscious efforts to break away from traditional stereotypes and provide more positive role models for female players.

3) Do you agree with the idea that audiences reject media products if they feel they are misrepresented within them?

Yes, I agree with the idea that audiences may reject media products if they feel misrepresented within them. The video game industry is aware of this phenomenon and is making efforts to change the way women are portrayed in games. The argument is that misrepresentation contributes to the diminishing participation of women in the industry, and when women don't feel positively reflected in game content, they may lose interest. As a result, the industry appears to be adapting to better cater to the diverse interests and perspectives of its audience, including women.

And now read this short Protocol feature on Anita Sarkeesian's talk to the Game Developers Conference in 2022. This covered the progress in gender representation in videogames and references Horizon Zero Dawn and Forbidden West. Answer the following questions:

1) How does Sarkeesian say things have changed in the video games industry in the last 10 years?

According to Anita Sarkeesian, the last 10 years have seen a significant shift in the video game industry, particularly in response to her "Tropes vs. Women in Video Games" series. She believes that feminist voices in gaming media and criticism have succeeded in holding companies, developers, and fans accountable for their behaviour. The impact of this has been evident in meaningful changes to both how games are made and how women are presented in the medium. Sarkeesian cited examples like Dishonored 2, Horizon Zero Dawn, and The Last of Us, which feature strong female protagonists without falling into the same problematic tropes highlighted in her earlier videos. Despite these positive changes, she also acknowledges that there are still deep-rooted issues that need addressing.

2) Why is gaming still male dominated? Make sure your answer here includes the statistics quoted in the article.

Gaming remains male-dominated, as indicated by Sarkeesian's reference to the bestselling games of 2021, including Call of Duty, Halo, and Madden, which are predominantly played and purchased by male gamers. She suggests that the industry's focus on live-service games and those without rich narratives has limited opportunities to tell unique female stories. Additionally, the article mentions that women make up only 24% of employees at Activision Blizzard, highlighting a gender imbalance within the industry. Sarkeesian points out that the shift towards service games, while increasing character diversity, has resulted in fewer meaningful stories.

3) How has the conversation shifted on representation in video games?

Anita Sarkeesian notes that the conversation on representation in video games has evolved over the years. It's no longer taboo to voice feminist critiques of video games and industry culture, a change from the early days of her "Tropes vs. Women in Video Games" series when she faced vicious harassment during the Gamergate controversy. The shift in conversation reflects a greater acceptance of diverse perspectives and a willingness to address issues related to sexism and harassment in the industry. While acknowledging progress in reducing overt and egregious sexism, Sarkeesian emphasises the need to recognise and combat sexism and harassment happening behind closed doors in game studios, both large and small.

Part 2: Further Feminist Theory: Media Factsheet

Use our Media Factsheet archive on the M: drive Media Shared (M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets) or here using your Greenford Google login. Find Media Factsheet #169 Further Feminist Theory, read the whole of the Factsheet and answer the following questions:

1) What definitions are offered by the factsheet for ‘feminism‘ and ‘patriarchy’?

Feminism is described as a movement aiming for equality between men and women, focusing on social, economic, and political aspects. It seeks to highlight the power and suppressive nature of the patriarchy, which is defined as male dominance in society.

2) Why did bell hooks publish her 1984 book ‘Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center’?

bell hooks published the book to address the lack of diversity within the feminist movement. She argued that diverse voices had been marginalised, emphasising the experiences of lower-class and poor women, especially those who are non-white. The book aimed to shift the focus from a narrow perspective of feminism to a more inclusive approach.

3) What aspects of feminism and oppression are the focus for a lot of bell hooks’s work?

bell hooks focuses on challenging the traditional feminist goal of making all women equal to men, emphasising that not all men are equal due to factors such as oppression, sexuality, and ethnicity. Her work highlights the importance of considering intersectionality and understanding the various aspects of identity, including class, race, and gender, in the pursuit of social equality.

4) What is intersectionality, and what does hooks argue regarding this?

Intersectionality refers to overlapping social identities and related systems of oppression. bell hooks argues that understanding intersectionality is crucial for achieving political and social equality. She contends that experiences of class, gender, and sexuality cannot be fully understood without considering the influences of racialisation. hooks emphasises the need to recognise and address the multiple dimensions of identity simultaneously.

5) What did Liesbet van Zoonen conclude regarding the relationship between gender roles and the mass media?

Liesbet van Zoonen concluded that there is a strong relationship between gender roles (stereotypes, pornography, and ideology) and communication in the mass media. The media plays a significant role in constructing observable gender identity structures in advertising, film, and TV.

6) Liesbet van Zoonen sees gender as socially constructed. What does this mean and which other media theorist we have studied does this link to?

Viewing gender as socially constructed means that it is not an inherent or fixed property but a product of ongoing processes influenced by social, cultural, and historical contexts. This idea aligns with postmodernist thinking. This perspective links to Judith Butler, as both van Zoonen and Butler emphasise the preformative and dynamic nature of gender.

7) How do feminists view women’s lifestyle magazines in different ways? Which view do you agree with?

Feminists have differing views on women’s lifestyle magazines. Some criticise these magazines as commercial sites perpetuating exaggerated femininity, while others may find pleasure in consuming them. The critical view aligns with the feminist perspective of media-created norms, while the opposing view acknowledges that women's magazines are made by women, so reflect the authentic lives of women. I agree with the view that women's lifestyle magazines represent the authentic lives of women

8) In looking at the history of the colours pink and blue, van Zoonen suggests ideas gender ideas can evolve over time. Which other media theorist we have studied argues things evolve over time and do you agree that gender roles are in a process of constant change? Can you suggest examples to support your view?

Liesbet van Zoonen's idea of evolving gender ideas over time aligns with a postmodern perspective. Judith Butler, another theorist, argues that gender is preformative and subject to change. I agree that gender roles are in constant flux, influenced by societal shifts. Examples include changing perceptions of masculinity and femininity in fashion, evolving family structures challenging traditional gender roles, and increasing visibility of diverse gender identities in media.

9) What are the five aspects van Zoonen suggests are significant in determining the influence of the media?

Whether the institution is commercial or public.

The platform on which they operate (print versus digital media).

Genre (drama versus news).

Target audiences.

The place the media text holds within the audience's daily lives.

10) What other media theorist can be linked to van Zoonen’s readings of the media?

Van Zoonen's emphasis on gender construction within media aligns with Stuart Hall's encoding/decoding model. Both theorists explore how meanings are produced, encoded, and decoded in media messages.

11) Van Zoonen discusses ‘transmission models of communication’. She suggests women are oppressed by the dominant culture and therefore take in representations that do not reflect their view of the world. What other theory and idea (that we have studied recently) can this be linked to?

This idea can be linked to the concept of the "male gaze" introduced by Laura Mulvey. The transmission model aligns with Mulvey's argument that women often passively consume media produced from a male perspective, contributing to the reinforcement of patriarchal norms.

12) Finally, van Zoonen has built on the work of bell hooks by exploring power and feminism. She suggests that power is not a binary male/female issue but reflects the “multiplicity of relations of subordination”. How does this link to bell hooks?

This links to bell hooks' emphasis on intersectionality and challenging simplistic views of power dynamics. Both van Zoonen and hooks highlight the complexity of power relations, acknowledging that individuals can be both subordinate and dominant in various contexts. They encourage a nuanced understanding of power beyond a simple male/female binary.