BEYOND THE SCREEN: UNPACKING GENDER’S INFLUENCE ON THE GAMING WORLD

Gender is a concept that touches each and every person across the world. It is also something that affects many facets of human life. The gaming world is not separate from it as a concept, and there are areas in which the two clearly intersect. Women have long been effectively outcast from the industry, and this stems from more than just simple biases—women are distanced from technology, struggle to enter male-dominated workplaces, and are not considered real gamers because of the culture. Much of the literature touches on the experiences of women in the industry, the gendered experiences of audiences, and how masculinity affects it all. With a foundation in the gender disparity that exists within this industry, this thesis seeks to answer the question “How does gender affect the content and perception of a video game?” through research on the literature, surveys, and interviews.