Gendered Discourses in Defining the Imagined Community of Gamer

• In Event: Gendered/Gendering Practices and Discourses

Abstract

In this paper we explore the contested meanings associated with the definition of “gamer.” The work is a scan of research and theoretical stances with respect to what has driven the broader games research agenda, with corresponding insight and blind spots therein. We suggest a need for consensus and conversation with other divisions about the social issues and challenges of doing work in the games space, as what constitutes members of these various communities grows and changes. Our goals is to incubate the issues in games from a standpoint where conversations about gender may occur and refine a vocabulary for articulating these challenges within digital communication context.

Authors

• Kelly Bergstrom, York University

• Florence Chee, Loyola U Chicago