'I'm not a gamer' Sexism, misogyny and toxicity as modulators of women gamers' experiences

Abstract

Introduction/Purpose/Goals. Video games have transitioned from a subculture to a mainstream entertainment product, resulting in an increase and diversification of audiences. From a critical perspective, video games continue to perpetuate a highly toxic masculine culture that places women in the position of "Other," making them the focus of hostility. This study aims to explore the experiences of female players in gaming environments and delve into their self-perception and positioning within the gamer community. Methodology. To achieve this goal, a focus group of experienced female players was selected, whose interest in video games has led to their choice as an academic-professional specialization field. Results. The violence and toxicity that female players face in gaming environments affect both their gaming experience and participation in the community, leading to inhibition or self-exclusion. Even offline, the persistence of certain gender stereotypes will lead to the undervaluation of women as gamers, students, and professionals. Discussion/Contribution/Originality. Although this study is in line with previous works on gender and video games, its qualitative nature and the dual identity of the participants as players and future professionals allowed for the observation of the weight of the community and its toxicity in their identification as players or the persistence of gender stereotypes in their environment, affecting both their gaming experience and academic-professional specialization.