Femininity in Video Games: An Analysis of Gender in Terms of Visual Aspects, Narrative and Sociability

Abstract

The role of gender in the design of technologies has been a topic of growing importance in fields such as Interaction Design, HCI and Games. Understanding that technology development and use practices emerge within the cultural processes, we analyze notions of traditional femininity in technology, as well as new approaches to female representation. The issues discussed and briefly analyzed in this essay point to a production and regulation of gender by technologies such as video games. Our goal in this paper, therefore, is to assess how gender impacts design and the use of digital games in terms of visuals, narrative and sociability.