Talk in online video games: study of how the use of jargon, social interaction, and representation in Overwatch affects the ability of women to immerse themselves in these spaces

Stander, Emily

Title: Talk in online video games: study of how the use of jargon, social interaction, and representation in Overwatch affects the ability of women to immerse themselves in these spaces
Creator: Stander, Emily
ThesisAdvisor: Garman, Anthea
Subject: Internet games Social aspects
Subject: Video gamers Language
Subject: Women video gamers
Subject: Cyberbullying
Subject: Online hate speech
Subject: Online trolling
Subject: Online chat groups
Subject: Women Social conditions
Subject: Women Sociological aspects
Subject: Overwatch (Video game)
Subject: Internet games Sex differences
Subject: Sex discrimination against women
Date: 2022-04-07
Type: Master's thesis
Type: text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/232477
Identifier: vital:49995
Description: This thesis investigates the impact on women of aggressive, demeaning and blaming talk in the online video game* space. The objective is to understand how players talk to each other and how this kind of talk presents issues for women trying to enter the online gaming sphere and become recognised as players. The main method was participatory observation and interviews with women who have experienced such talk. Key results which came from this research is that the process of keeping specific people out of communities through different means of talk - gatekeeping, women being viewed as objects of sexual gratification for men through bad representation in video games and media and using women as scapegoats for frustration and blame in the competitive online video game space, are the main issues which arise from the way players communicate with each other. In conclusion, the research presented that there needs to be an effective system of unlearning and relearning these behaviours in communities and a change in the way women are represented and seen in media is necessary in order to change the behavioural patterns which exist in gaming culture.
Description: Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Journalism and Media Studies, 2022
Format: computer, online resource, application/pdf, 1 online resource (80 pages), pdf
Publisher: Rhodes University, Faculty of Humanities, Journalism and Media Studies
Language: English
Rights: Stander, Emily
Rights: Use of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons "Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike" License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/)

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