A new study aims to recruit 5,000 LGBTQ+ youth aged 14 to 29. Participants will be asked to submit screen shots of the games they play. Researchers hope that the results will encourage video game producers to include more LGBTQ+ characters in their games. The findings from the LEVEL UP! study will also be shared with child welfare services. The article also discusses the lack of social support among female gamers, their lack of interest in online gaming, and the fear of getting involved in online gaming.
Female gamer’s lack of social support
The lack of support for LGBTQ+ teens who play video games can contribute to their overall psychological health. This lack of support can negatively affect self-esteem and even lead to depression. Although video games are becoming more popular with young people, a lack of social support for female gamers is particularly troubling. As women have traditionally been marginalized in the video game industry, they must develop coping strategies to deal with online harassment.
Although video games are intended to be social spaces, the gaming community can be problematic and toxic. Sexual harassment is one of the major reasons why women stay away from these activities. Previous research on the factors contributing to harassment of female gamers has not explored these issues. In this study, the authors replicate previous findings using an online gaming community consisting of 856 participants. The findings confirm that gamer identity and hostile sexism are both significant predictors of online sexual harassment perpetration.
Female gamer’s lack of interest in gaming
A 2006 survey conducted by Jason Rockwood analyzed the influence of gaming on GLBT youth. The study was the first to quantify the presence of this previously invisible minority, which is often dismissed out of hand. The study’s findings were striking: while GLBT gamers are just as likely to play video games as heterosexual men, the number of female gamers was nearly three times lower. Several reasons may explain this discrepancy, including the lack of positive role models in video games.
Despite the impact of gaming on LGBTQ+ youth, heteronormative society pushes back against queer culture by opposing same-sex marriage and openly gay athletes. Homophobic comments about LGBTQ+ people are so widespread that heteronormative society views them as a moral threat that must be eradicated at all costs. For these reasons, heteronormative society seeks to limit the exposure of queer themes in video games.
Female gamer’s difficulty in building networks
Research into the role of women in video games is emerging. Although men continue to dominate the industry, women are becoming increasingly involved. This phenomenon has a direct impact on their well-being and relationships with peers. Despite this, many women face a number of challenges when participating in online gaming communities. Here, we examine some of the key obstacles women face in gaming. A female gamer’s difficulty in building networks and the wellbeing of LGBTQ+ youth in particular.
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Research conducted by Online Roulette has shown that the experiences of LGBTQ+ gamers are disproportionately negative. The authors found that 88% of LGBTQ+ gamers reported experiencing harassment within the past year. More importantly, half of these gamers said they are uncomfortable discussing their sexuality with gaming communities, suggesting that more research is needed to better understand this issue. Furthermore, the authors noted that there is a lack of gender equity in the mainstream gaming culture, which limits the visibility and voice of LGBTQ+ youth.
Female gamer’s fear of getting involved in online gaming
Research on the effects of online gaming for young people of LGBT+ background shows a variety of problems. As a popular form of entertainment, video games have been used by children and adults alike. Some of the major gaming platforms are PCs, smartphones, and games consoles. But, some areas of these platforms are unsafe for young LGBTQ+ people. Historically, online gaming has been overwhelmingly male-dominated. Moreover, women and girls regularly experience misogynistic and gendered comments.
Research on the impact of female gamers’ fear of online gaming on their mental health is needed to better understand the causes and consequences of this problem. Women account for 45% of gamers in the U.S., and they are slightly more likely to be LGBTQ+ than their heterosexual counterparts. The proportion of Black and Latinx youth who play video games is also higher than that of white youth.