The representation of gender and ethnicity in digital interactive games

The content of games is an understudied area in research about digital interactive games (DIGs). This paper reports a content analysis of the representation of gender and ethnic groups in 12 console games. We concentrated on the portrayal of the leading character, and supporting role in the introductory film of the DIG. Among the titles studied were games with a female leading character (for example, Tomb Raider, Parasite Eve), and with a male leading character (for example, GTA ViceCity, Splinter Cell). Our results show that the number of female characters was far larger than in earlier studies, with many of them in leading parts. Whatever their role in the game, the physical representation of women was as stereotypical as before: Their attire emphasized female features. Most characters in the DIGs belonged to the dominant, ‘white’ ethnic minority, the heroes exclusively so.

Publisher: Paper presented at the annual meeting of the International Communication Association, New Orleans Sheraton, New Orleans, LA, May 27, 2004
Year of Publication: 2004