The international video gaming industry generated an estimated $52.5 Billion (US Dollars) in 2009 according to PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) (Jenkins, 2010). PWC has estimated that this booming industry would have increased by a whopping 10.6 percent in four years and this would set the estimated generated revenue of this industry at $86.8 Billion. From the above statistics it is evident that the video game industry is an industry that is growing exponentially. Clearly this is a vast industry, I would like to take a look into the alleged issues of sexism as well as stereotyping in the gaming industry and whether or not these issues persist in the this industry. I personally feel that the gaming industry should put an end to misogynistic portrayals, begin to cater for a broader feminine market as well as
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The average number of female gamers aged 50 and older has increased by 32% from 2012 to 2013 (Gallagher, 2013).
However, studies have proven that female lead characters in video games are often portrayed as sexually promiscuous, dependant, weak as well as dressed in revealing clothing and are thin with large breasts. (Karen E. Dill, 2008). Essentially, the portrayal of female characters in video games are of a very sexual and misogynistic nature.
The issue of sexism goes even further as these sexist depictions aren’t only seen within the actual game, but they are used widely in marketing strategies of such games. Research has showed that 47.4% of gaming advertisements feature a female primary character in contrast to 51.3% being male primary characters and the other 1.3% being unclear in terms of gender. Of the 47.4% of female primary character 97% of advertisements sexualise female characters and portray them in a very demoralising light (Peck,
The average number of female gamers aged 50 and older has increased by 32% from 2012 to 2013 (Gallagher, 2013).
However, studies have proven that female lead characters in video games are often portrayed as sexually promiscuous, dependant, weak as well as dressed in revealing clothing and are thin with large breasts. (Karen E. Dill, 2008). Essentially, the portrayal of female characters in video games are of a very sexual and misogynistic nature.
The issue of sexism goes even further as these sexist depictions aren’t only seen within the actual game, but they are used widely in marketing strategies of such games. Research has showed that 47.4% of gaming advertisements feature a female primary character in contrast to 51.3% being male primary characters and the other 1.3% being unclear in terms of gender. Of the 47.4% of female primary character 97% of advertisements sexualise female characters and portray them in a very demoralising light (Peck,