Download pdf
The Evolution of Female Character Representations in Video Games from a Feminism Perspective
- 1 Nanyang Technological University
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
As a form of artistic cultural product, video games exert a subtle yet profound influence on societal culture and value systems. In an era where video games have become an integral component of popular culture and entertainment, the depiction of female characters within these virtual realms not only reflects the individual perspectives of game designers, but also serves as a mirror to broader societal attitudes and inclusivity towards women. This paper conducts a comprehensive analysis of iconic games spanning different eras since the inception of video games in the public eye, adopting a feminism perspective. The aim is to elucidate the diverse characteristics of female characters and their corresponding manifestations of societal ideologies. The research will meticulously trace the evolution of video game development from the 1980s to the present, dissecting mainstream representations of female characters across different epochs. Through this analysis, this study endeavors to unravel the intricate interplay between video game narratives and evolving societal values, shedding light on the dynamic process of shaping these portrayals in relation to prevailing cultural norms. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the multifaceted role of video games in influencing perceptions and conversations surrounding gender representation and empowerment.
Keywords
female game character, video games, feminism, stereotypes, misogyny
[1]. Daniel, Muriel., Garry, Crawford. (2018). Video Games as Culture: Considering the Role and Importance of Video Games in Contemporary Society. Oxfordshire: Taylor & Francis.
[2]. Molly, Engelberg. (2019). Women and Gaming Culture: A Pilot Study on the Experience of Feminine Individuals Entering the Video Game Community. WWU Honors College Senior Projects. 305. https://cedar.wwu.edu/wwu_honors/305
[3]. Xeniya, Kondrat. (2015). Gender and Video Games: How Is Female Gender Generally Represented in Various Genres of Video Games?. Journal of Comparative Research in Anthropology and Sociology, 6(1):171-193.
[4]. Elizabeth, Behm-Morawitz., Dana, Mastro. (2009). The Effects of the Sexualization of Female Video Game Characters on Gender Stereotyping and Female Self-Concept. Sex Roles, 61(11):808-823. doi: 10.1007/S11199-009-9683-8
[5]. Diah, Ayu, Okiyanti., Lastiko, Endi, Rahmantyo. (2016). Audience Response toward Lara Croft in Tomb Raider 2013: A Study on Heterosexual Male Gamers. 5(2).
[6]. Kuk, B. (2019). Playing Gender: An Analysis of Femininity in the Popular Culture Phenomenon League of Legends. Honour’s Thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB. 1-78.
[7]. Juho, Matias, Puro. (2016). Female Characters in Video Games : Representation and Character Types. Tampere University of Applied Sciences. http://www.theseus.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/113046/Puro_Juho_Matias.pdf
[8]. Samuel, J., West. (2014). The Undermining of Females in Video Games. VCU Undergraduate Research Posters:118 Retrieved from https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/uresposters/118
[9]. Mildred, F., Perreault., Gregory, Perreault., Andrea, Suarez. (2021). What Does it Mean to be a Female Character in “Indie” Game Storytelling? Narrative Framing and Humanization in Independently Developed Video Games:. Games and Culture, 155541202110262-. doi: 10.1177/15554120211026279
[10]. Keiko, M., McCullough., Y., Joel, Wong., Natalie, J., Stevenson. (2020). Female Video Game Players and the Protective Effect of Feminist Identity Against Internalized Misogyny. Sex Roles, 82(5):266-276. doi: 10.1007/S11199-019-01055-7
[11]. Liu, A. (2019). Gender Representation in Video Games. Boston, Massachusetts : Northeastern University. https://doi.org/10.17760/D20335161
Cite this article
Luo,L. (2023). The Evolution of Female Character Representations in Video Games from a Feminism Perspective. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,30,131-136.
Data availability
The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.
Disclaimer/Publisher's Note
The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of EWA Publishing and/or the editor(s). EWA Publishing and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content.
About volume
Volume title: Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Interdisciplinary Humanities and Communication Studies
© 2024 by the author(s). Licensee EWA Publishing, Oxford, UK. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and
conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license. Authors who
publish this series agree to the following terms:
1. Authors retain copyright and grant the series right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons
Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this
series.
2. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the series's published
version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial
publication in this series.
3. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and
during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See
Open access policy for details).