AN EXAMINATION OF SINGAPOREAN VIDEO GAMERS' PERCEPTIONS OF FEMALE VIDEO GAME CHARACTERS

Abstract

Previous research on female representation in video games has revealed that women are often sexualised, objectified, minimised, or simply absent from games. These representations have also been found to influence and affect the psyche of video gamers. With the number of female gamers growing each year, there is a pressing need to continue examining how women are treated in video games, especially with the influx of games now featuring principal female characters. This study aimed to examine if how women are treated in these contemporary video games differed from older titles, and analyse if these portrayals mirrored the perceptions of video gamers. A content analysis of 34 video games released over the past five years was first conducted, and results revealed an increase in games featuring playable female characters with diminished sexualisation. However, results also showed that secondary or background female characters remain objectified and sexualised. Following the content analysis, interviews with 15 male and female Singaporean video gamers were conducted, and they revealed slowly changing perceptions of female characters.