Topics of Toxicity: Analyzing how literacy practices construct oppressive discourses in a mobile phone war gaming community

• In Event: Fostering Supportive Discursive Environments

Abstract

Adolescents spend much time playing mobile phone game where in-game chats can perpetuate sexism, racism, and homophobia. This mixed-method study combines qualitative ethnographic tools with quantitative text analytics to investigate how one gaming community developed and maintained these oppressive discourses through their literacy practices. We found users maintained hegemonic dominance by braiding intersectional oppressions together to marginalize, other, and belittle. Implications explore how literacy educators can counter these oppressive discourses.

Authors

• Scott Storm, University at Albany, State University of New York

• Abigail Ferris, University at Albany