Part 1: Exploring gender disruption in societal institutions and its relevance in the video game industry

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2021-04-09

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Southern New Hampshire University

Abstract

This is part 1 of a multiyear study to understand gender disruption in societal institutions and its relevance in the video game industry. In order to explore this topic, the study will utilize a literature review of the video game industry and qualitative interviews with professionals in the field of diversity and inclusion. The video industry has seen that 59% of video game players are male and 41% of video game players are females (Entertainment Software Association, 2019). While there is clear inequality in male and female video game players this study to seeks to understand gender disruption as it relates to the industry. In the context of this research the term disruption is used similarly to how Clay Christensen used it in his theory of disruptive innovation, however this study seeks to understand how the gender concepts are challenged in the video game industry. (Christensen et al, 2015). It has been found that gender discursive struggles exist in the online gaming communities and that progressive gamers have work to do in online gaming communities (Naidoo et al., 2019). The literature review and the interviews will provide a better understanding on the framework that can be used to understand gender disruption in societal institutions and its relevance in the video game industry. The literature review will provide helpful information on the current gaming industry such as how content analysis by Glaubke et. al (2001) established that females that were incorporated in only 16 per cent of the characters in popular video games. The recent research was from 2001 and there may have been improvements since then. Demonstrating the how the female inclusion is not a priority for most video games developers. The interviews will help by collecting qualitative data from professionals in the areas of diversity and inclusion towards the goal of getting a better understanding on a broad gender disruption society. (Author abstract)

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