The Female Body and Experience in Chinese Multiplayer Online Battle Arena Games

Abstract

This paper sets out to discuss the implications of female representation in Chinese Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) games for female players. Due to the sexist treatment of women in the gaming sphere, this paper hopes to open new discussions of how visual representation of women in games is harmful for female players. By examining a 2020 case study conducted by Tingting Liu and Zishan Lai on a top Chinese MOBA and applying various works by Judith Butler, Mary Ann Doane and Laikwan Pang, gaming is considered as a performance, masquerade or distorting mirror in which gender is explored. The visual representation of women in games puts forward a distorted view of female players and therefore influences the way male players view female players and how female players view themselves. Although it is a shame that this topic should be discussed from a cis-normative angle, perhaps through discussing the dynamics between cis-genders can this paper bring up new topics. Ultimately, this paper hopes to provide a more holistic view of the issue by pointing out possible links between the subjects and to better understand the possible gender bias present in mainstream MOBA games with a broad reach of audience.