Equal Gender Representation in The Gaming Franchise

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Equal Gender Representation in The Gaming Franchise This paper tries to express how sexism/chauvinism ideas have infected the virtual-world of video games, and resulted in a male dominated video-gaming industry. Now, being that 49% of U.S. households own a dedicated gaming console (E.S.A. 2012), it is imperative that we address this issue. Gender disparity in the gaming business is exceedingly one-sided. Female employees constitute less than 10% of the gaming industry, and even though that shortcoming females have contributed to the video gaming franchise. A small number of females have indeed contributed to the gaming franchise as a result of the industries no-girls-allowed mentality which strongly suggest that old saying boys-only. In this paper, I will examine current research relevant to the video game industry and its representation of the female gender, provide personal accounts of sexual harassment within the video game industry and offer my opinions of what could be done to begin the steps in an extraordinarily difficult journey. The Industry Since their beginnings, by both female and male gamers have enjoyed video games. They are so beloved by their followers that the annual Entertainment Software Association reports the gaming industry at an estimated $17 billion dollars franchise; globally that number increases to $67 billion of which 48% is female and 52% male. Females are also part of the gaming population, representing 47% while the males represent 53% (E.S.A., 2012). This means that both males and females support the gaming industry, as well as production of their products, both financially and through its use; although, the gaming industry does not share this same support of gender equality. The 11th Annual Sal... ... middle of paper ... ...ce Review, 106(3), 533-547. doi:10.1017/S0003055412000329 National Center for Women Information Technology(2013). Retrieved Nov 3, 2013 from http://www.ncwit.org/ Nation's Report Card.(2005). 2005 High school transcript study. Retrieved Nov 3, 2013 from http://nationsreportcard.gov/hsts_2005/hs_over_1.aspx Pinchefsky. C. (2012). #1Reason why' hashtag explains why there are few female games developers. Forbes. Retrieved Nov 3, 2013 from http://www.forbes.com/sites/carolpinchefsky/2012/11/27/twitter-hashtag-explains Raja, T., (2012). Why It Sucks to Be a Woman in the Video Game Industry. Mother Jones. Retrieved Nov 3, 2013 from http://www.motherjones.com/mixed-media/2012/11/women- video game-industry-twitter-1reasonwhy U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission (2013). Laws, Regulations & Guidance. Retrieved Nov 3, 2013from: http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/harassment.cfm

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