“I Play So I Am?” A Gender Study into Stereotype Perception and Genre Choice of Digital Game Players

Abstract

Stereotypes in game culture are still inhibiting the freedom of female players. This survey study aims to gain insight into these practices by looking at gaming stereotypes on two different, yet interrelated, levels. First, we inquire into perceptions of gamers regarding gender-related and general gamer stereotypes and how these relate to playing frequency. Second, genre choice is investigated in light of player’s gender and how this is associated with play motivations. Results suggest that high frequency female players disagree the most with gender-related stereotypical beliefs and that these women are more strongly drawn towards specific gaming genres than men.

Acknowledgments

The authors like to thank Elena Núñez Castellar for her statistical advice and proof reading of the article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Lotte Vermeulen

Lotte Vermeulen (M.A., iMinds-MICT-Ghent University, Belgium) is a doctoral candidate in Communication and conducts research on identity formation of female players and the role that digital games play in their everyday lives.

Jan Van Looy

Jan Van Looy (Ph.D., iMinds-MICT-Ghent University, Belgium) is assistant professor at the research group for Media and ICT (iMinds-MICT) at Ghent University, Belgium, where his team conducts multidisciplinary research into digital games and immersive media.