Women and videogames: blog tasks and Further Feminist Theory

 

1) What was Gamergate?

Gamergate was an online controversy in the gaming community. It began with claims about ethics in games journalism but became known for harassment, especially towards women.

2) What is the recent controversy surrounding narrative design studio Sweet Baby Inc?

Sweet Baby Inc is a company that works on storytelling and diversity in video games. Some online groups accused the studio of forcing political agendas and diversity into games. Supporters argue the backlash reflects ongoing resistance to inclusion in the gaming industry.

3) What does the article conclude regarding diversity in videogames?
The article concludes that diversity in videogames is becoming more visible and important.

1) What definitions are offered by the factsheet for ‘feminism ‘and ‘patriarchy’?

Feminism is defined as a movement that aims for equality for women socially, economically and politically. It is not about hating men but about challenging inequality. Patriarchy is male dominance in society which limits women’s opportunities and power.

2) Why did bell hooks publish her 1984 book ‘Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center’?
bell hooks published the book because she believed feminism ignored women from different races and classes. She argued that poor and non white women were pushed to the margins of the movement. She wanted feminism to become more inclusive and representative.

3) What aspects of feminism and oppression are the focus for a lot of bell hooks’s work?
Her work focuses on race, class, gender and sexuality. She highlights how poor black women experience oppression differently from white middle class women. She also encourages male involvement in ending sexism.

4) What is intersectionality and what does hooks argue regarding this?
Intersectionality is the idea that different parts of identity such as race, gender and class overlap and work together. These identities cannot be separated because they shape a person’s experience at the same time. hooks argues that understanding intersectionality is essential to achieve true equality.

5) What did Liesbet van Zoonen conclude regarding the relationship between gender roles and the mass media?

Liesbet van Zoonen concluded that there is a strong relationship between gender and communication. She argues that the mass media helps construct and reinforce gender roles through advertising, film and television. Media texts shape how society understands femininity and masculinity.

6) Liesbet van Zoonen sees gender as socially constructed. What does this mean and which other media theorist we have studied does this link to?
She means that gender is created by society and culture rather than being natural or fixed. Ideas about masculinity and femininity change depending on time and place. This links to Judith Butler who also argues that gender is performed and constructed.

7) How do feminists view women’s lifestyle magazines in different ways? Which view do you agree with?
Some feminists argue that magazines promote unrealistic beauty standards and keep women focused on appearance. Others say women gain pleasure and identity from reading them. I agree that magazines can be limiting but audiences can also interpret them in their own way.

8) In looking at the history of the colours pink and blue, van Zoonen suggests ideas gender ideas can evolve over time. Which other media theorist we have studied argues things evolve over time and do you agree that gender roles are in a process of constant change? Can you suggest examples to support your view?
David Gauntlett argues that identities are more fluid and changing in modern society. I agree that gender roles change over time, shown by more male beauty influencers and more female action heroes in film. Social media has also allowed people to express non traditional gender identities.

9) What are the five aspects van Zoonen suggests are significant in determining the influence of the media?
She highlights whether the institution is commercial or public. She also considers platform, genre and target audience. Finally she looks at the place the text holds in everyday life.

10) What other media theorist can be linked to van Zoonen’s readings of the media?
This links to Stuart Hall and his encoding and decoding model. He argues that audiences actively interpret media messages. Van Zoonen builds on this idea by saying gender meanings are negotiated.

11) Van Zoonen discusses ‘transmission models of communication’. She suggests women are oppressed by the dominant culture and therefore take in representations that do not reflect their view of the world. What other theory and idea (that we have studied recently) can this be linked to?
This can be linked to the idea of hegemonic dominance. It also connects to Stuart Hall and dominant readings where audiences accept preferred meanings. Women may internalise representations created by a male dominated culture.

12) Finally, van Zoonen has built on the work of bell hooks by exploring power and feminism. She suggests that power is not a binary male/female issue but reflects the “multiplicity of relations of subordination”. How does this link to bell hooks?
This links to bell hooks’ idea of intersectionality. hooks argues that people can be oppressed in one situation and privileged in another. Both theorists believe power is complex and linked to race, class and gender.