Gender representation in video games

Common card · No. 345594

The portrayal of gender in video games, as in other media, is a subject of research in gender studies and is discussed in the context of sexism in video gaming. Although women make up about half of video game players, they are significantly underrepresented as characters in mainstream games, despite the prominence of iconic heroines such as Samus Aran or Lara Croft. Women in games often reflect traditional gender roles, sexual objectification, or stereotypes such as the "damsel in distress". Male characters can also be stereotyped, frequently depicted as big and muscular, and LGBTQ characters have been slow to appear due to the cis-heteronormativity of the medium. Research suggests that gender portrayal in games can influence players' perceptions of gender roles, especially in young people. On average, game sales are highest in games showing non-central, over-sexualized female characters, and female characters that don't fit those criteria are underrepresented.

Read on Wikipedia · Image Merlokantor, CC BY-SA 3.0