Sexualization in video games does not appear to harm gamers, according to a new study published in Computers in Human Behavior. The results indicate that playing video games does not lead to misogynistic views or adverse mental health outcomes.
Female characters are often attractive and scantily clad in video games (although there seems to be a decline in this trend over time). Some people have raised concerns that the sexualized portrayal of women is having negative effects on players. But research on the topic has produced mixed results.
To better understand whether playing video games is associated with decreased player well-being or increased misogyny, the authors of the current research used a statistical technique known as meta-analysis to systematically assess the results of previous searches.
“I’ve been studying the effects of video games on gamers for two decades now, mostly on violence. I think most people have come to accept that there is no relationship between violent video games and aggression or violent crimes (despite some recalcitrants, including APA),” explained study author Christopher J. Ferguson, professor of psychology at Stetson University.
“However, people still ask a lot of questions about sexualization and whether games make male gamers more sexist towards women or whether female gamers experience more body dissatisfaction and other wellness issues. This is a much smaller area of research than the area of violence, so we were hoping to bring some clarity to it.
Ferguson and his research team conducted a meta-analysis of 18 relevant studies. All studies included a measure of exposure to generalized or sexualized video games. Fifteen of the studies measured aggression towards women or sexist attitudes, while 10 studies measured outcomes related to depression, body image or anxiety.
But the researchers failed to find a statistically significant link between video games and sexist attitudes or psychological well-being.
“Overall, the ‘moral panic’ about video games and sexualization pretty much follows the ‘paint-by-numbers’ pattern of the video game debate. Lots of hyperbole and moral outrage, but very little evidence that video games cause ‘harm’ to male or female gamers,” Ferguson told PsyPost.
“As a purely ‘public health’ issue, it doesn’t seem to be a concern at all. That doesn’t mean people can’t advocate for better representation of women in games. They just have to be careful not to make “harm” claims that can be easily debunked, thus calling into question what might otherwise be reasonable advocacy goals.
The researchers also assessed the quality of the studies, looking at factors such as pre-registration, standardized measures, independent ratings of video game content, and the use of control variables.
“The main caveat is just that many studies just aren’t very good,” Ferguson said. “The good news is that higher quality studies were less likely to find evidence of negative effects than lower quality studies. In some cases, scholars probably introduced their personal moral views into the studies, even if they were unintentional. Admittedly, this is still a fairly small area of research, but this initial data has been so disappointing that I’m not sure there’s much to exploit here.
“Obviously we go through these cycles of blaming the media for social issues,” the researcher added. “At least with fictional media, evidence often reveals that we are likely media scapegoats and that fiction rarely causes social problems. Again, to be fair, advocating for better representation of women in games can be a good cause even if games don’t cause harmful effects. I support these efforts, I just hope advocates don’t misrepresent the evidence as part of their efforts (which, unfortunately, is all too common among advocacy groups).
The study “Does Sexualization in Video Games Harm Players?” A Meta-Analytic Review,” was authored by Christopher J. Ferguson, James D. Sauer, Aaron Drummond, Julia Kneer, and Emily Lowe-Calverley.
What of gamers are female?
Video game audiences in the United States 2006-2021, by gender In 2021, women made up 45% of gamers in the United States, up from 41% of US gamers identifying as women the previous year.
What are the players called? usage note for gamer girl The term gamer girl is used by some to distinguish female gamers from mainstream demographics from male gamers, but not without controversy. To see also : Mother of 4 makes a living teaching how to play video games: ‘I’m breaking this stigma’. Many girls and women who play video games would prefer not to mention their gender.
Are there more male gamers than female?
Platforms and Discovery. Looking at the gender and age distribution of all gamers, we find that 46% of gamers in these 13 countries are female. While men make up the majority of gamers, with men aged 21-35 accounting for 20%, the gender gap in the overall gaming market is narrow.
What percentage of FPS gamers are female?
Overall, women have different gambling motivations than men. To see also : Prime Video: The 49 Best TV Shows to Watch. According to recent statistics, more than 45% of Western gamers are now women (Entertainment Software Association [ESA], 2018; Interactive Software Federation of Europe [ISFE], 2018).
Why do gamers use female characters?
Female avatars are treated better than male avatars in online games and are more likely to get “gifts” and be invited to groups. To see also : 10 Video Games On The First Kind Of Their Genre. Female avatars are psychologically perceived to be weaker and less skilled, which can give a player a psychological advantage against their opponents.
Are the players male or female?
Are females better at video games?
Does this mean that men are better at video games than women? No. In fact, when it came to motor skills, the sexes were equal. The researchers say that not only in this research population, but in their general experience with computers and games, men and women have equal skills.
Why are female characters sexualized in video games?
Interactive media, on the other hand, has unique characteristics that can affect how sexualized female images affect women’s thoughts and feelings about their bodies: When playing video games, users assume the role of a character and can perceive it, and therefore its sexualization, as part of themselves.
What percentage of CoD players are female?
About a fifth of Call of Duty’s 40 million monthly players are women and that percentage is growing, according to Activision. This is interesting because it looks like CoD’s ‘brand map’ of Europe from Europe.
Who are called gamers? Definition of gamer 1: a player who mainly plays: an athlete who loves competition. 2: a person who plays games especially: a person who regularly plays computer or video games.
Who does Amano end up with gamers?
In Volume 11 of the light novel, Keita asked Karen out (without any misunderstanding) on White Day and she agreed, officially making them a couple again.
Is gamers the anime good?
For an anime named “Gamers”, it couldn’t be further. Story progression constantly hampered by the character’s lack of decent communication. Misunderstandings aside, there was decent humor and some great moments that, if glued and explained, might have made Gamers! A nice story.
Are there more male gamers than female?
Platforms and Discovery. Looking at the gender and age distribution of all gamers, we find that 46% of gamers in these 13 countries are female. While men make up the majority of gamers, with men aged 21-35 accounting for 20%, the gender gap in the overall gaming market is narrow.
What percentage of players are male? Gamers are still predominantly male: 45% of gamers identify as female, 55% as male, according to the ESA. That compares to 51% of Americans identifying as female, according to US Census estimates for 2019, the most recent year available.
Are more gamers male or female?
Video game players in the United States 2021, by gender In 2021, 41.5% of video game players in the United States were female, with the remaining 58.5% being male.
Why are the majority of gamers male?
This is probably due to the popularity and controversy of video games such as Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto which have made them well known even among non-gamers. There are a growing number of women playing these types of games, but the player base is still predominantly male.
