An Examination of Gender Role Portrayals in Video Games: Implications for Gender Socialisation and Aggressive Behaviour

"Girls may expect that they will continue to be victims

and needy and that their responsibilities include maintaining beauty and

sexual appeal" (Dietz 1998).

"These depictions of women are detrimental to

both girls and boys in as much as both may internalize these expectations

and accept the idea that women are to be viewed as weak, as victims, and

as sex objects. Furthermore, both girls and boys may come to believe that

the contributions of women in everyday life are less important than those

of men" (Dietz, 1998).

"This project illustrate s the overwhelming tendency to neglect to portray

female characters at all or to portray them in stereotypical traditional

female roles. In many instances within these games women are depicted

as helpless victims of ruthless men or as sex obje cts. Some may argue that

video games are not accurate representations of gender behavior. However,

one may extend the discussion asserted by Goffman (1979) in his discussion

of gender advertisements to video games. Goffman asserts that gender advertisements,

when understood as pictures, are not viewed as unnatural,

but rather as acceptable within the context of the situation ¯ as an advertisement.

Thus, even if the child accepts the notion that video games are

not real, he or she may still not challenge the ideas and characterizations

presented in them. Thus, the child may be more likely to accept the traditional

views of women found in these video games" (Dietz, 1998).

Dietz, T.L, 1998. An Examination of Violence and Gender Role Portrayals in Video Games: Implications

for Gender Socialisation and Aggressive Behaviour [pdf] Univeristy of Central Florida. Available at: 

<files.planbookedu.com/247567/.../Video+Games+and+Gender+Roles.pdf‎> [Accessed 10 January 2014]