Masculine Discourses in r/gaming

Maloney, Marcus; Roberts, Steven; Graham, Timothy

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-28262-2_4

Cited by 4 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Our data present a complex picture of the coexistence of good, bad and indifferent masculine practices, similar to other research into other ‘toxic’ online spaces (e.g. on Reddit see Glace et al, 2021; Maloney et al, 2019), including even among incels (Daly and Reed, 2021; Thorburn et al, 2022). On one hand, these complex dynamics remain commensurate with a hegemonic masculine framework, typified by the presence of a plurality of masculinities and hierarchal relations which correspond with, replicate and legitimate inequalities inherent in the wider societal gender order (Connell, 1995).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

‘How do I become blue pilled?’: Masculine ontological insecurity on 4chan’s advice board

Maloney

Roberts²,

Jones

2022

New Media & Society

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Through an analysis of 4chan’s /adv/ or ‘advice’ board – in which predominately male users seek advice on life matters – here we examine masculine ontological insecurity and its implications for understanding how ‘toxic’ masculine identities emerge, and how young men more generally struggle to make sense of their lives. Advancing extant scholarship, our findings uncover an ‘on the cusp’ masculine identity – subject to the anxieties and self-perceived failures which act as preconditions of toxic ideologies and outcomes, but also seemingly yet to practice such (il)logics. Responses from the community suggest three ways of addressing, or making sense of, the problems users faced. Finally, and of relevance to both the theorising of contemporary masculinities and related socio-positive interventions, we highlight the (seemingly) odd paradox of vulnerable male users being drawn to express their vulnerabilities on a platform notorious for its insensitivities.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

‘How do I become blue pilled?’: Masculine ontological insecurity on 4chan’s advice board

Maloney

Roberts²,

Jones

2022

New Media & Society

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“…Although the games industry is constantly evolving in terms of gaming platform, genre, and mechanics, this gendered contestation continues without significant abatement (Maloney, Roberts & Graham, 2019). In 2021, an Entertainment Software Association report touted increasing diversity among players in terms of age, ethnicity, and gender, with nearly half of all U.S. game players (45%) identifying as female (Entertainment Software Association, 2021).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They leveraged their resources to provide mainstream coverage and support to the movement (Harley, 2020; Lees, 2016). This strategy appeared fruitful, as subsequent analyses of Reddit sub-communities have found substantial overlap between Gamergaters and fervent Donald Trump supporters (Maloney, Roberts, & Graham, 2019; Martin, 2017).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Right-Wing Extremism in Mainstream Games: A Review of the Literature

et al. 2023

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Hate speech, harassment, and an increasing prevalence of right-wing extremism in online game spaces are of growing concern in the United States. Understanding trends in how and to what extent extremist groups utilize online gaming spaces is vital in taking action to protect players. To synthesize the current state of extant research and suggest future directions, we conduct a systematic review of the literature on right-wing extremism in videogames. We detail our search protocol, selection criteria, and analysis of the collected work, and then summarize the findings. Important themes include how and why extremists’ targeting of online game communities began, the role of Gamergate in this process, and the industry and market context in which such activities emerged. We describe the current nature of the problem, with extremist language and ideology providing a kind of on-ramp for radicalizing disenfranchised gamers. We conclude with a summary of responses from industry and legislators.

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“…To date, few media studies have applied the concept of hybrid masculinity to examine men’s gender identities online, or to assess whether or how social media afford opportunities for variation in men’s public presentation. The important exceptions have produced mixed results, with some suggesting that social media might function as a vehicle through which greater inclusivity is promoted (e.g., Owen & Riley, 2020; Maloney et al, 2019), while others find that these media reinforce and reproduce gender inequalities (Pascoe & Diefendorf, 2018). In an investigation of men’s Facebook use, for example, Scoats (2017) found that homosocial tactility or affectionate touch and dance was on the rise in men’s images.…”

Section: Hybrid Masculinity and Its Inclusive Potentialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Muscles, Makeup, and Femboys: Analyzing TikTok’s “Radical” Masculinities

Baker

2022

Social Media + Society

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News reports and online comments suggest that social media applications like TikTok play an important role in challenging traditional notions of masculinity. Male creators who don jewelry and engage in dance in their videos are emblematic of a broader shift in social and mainstream media toward gender non-conformity. Do these videos represent a movement away from hegemonic ideals? Based on a visual content analysis of 205 TikTok videos across the application’s 43 most followed male creators, we examine representations of masculinity on the platform. Drawing on the concept of hybrid masculinity, we find that TikTok creators both challenge and reinforce traditional notions of masculinity, subverting widely recognizable tropes, and gender norms while simultaneously reinforcing the importance of men’s muscularity, attractiveness, and sexual bravado. Taken together, our findings contribute to a broader discussion of the role that social media play in reproducing inequality along the lines of gender, race, and sexuality, including how beauty is rewarded symbolically and materially in online spaces.

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Masculine Discourses in r/gaming

Cited by 4 publications

References 11 publications

‘How do I become blue pilled?’: Masculine ontological insecurity on 4chan’s advice board

‘How do I become blue pilled?’: Masculine ontological insecurity on 4chan’s advice board

Right-Wing Extremism in Mainstream Games: A Review of the Literature

Muscles, Makeup, and Femboys: Analyzing TikTok’s “Radical” Masculinities

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