Looking at the Video / Computer Games Industry: What Implications Does Gender Socialisation Have For Women in Counter-Stereotypical Careers?

Figures show that the games industry remains a male dominated occupation. Anecdotally a link has been proposed between higher male consumption of platform-based games and career choices, though figures also show a higher female to male ratio in social networking games. This suggests that perhaps the type of gameplay may influence career choice. This study therefore interviews women who have chosen a counter-stereotypical gendered career pathway and who are students in Further Education and Higher Education who are in the process of making career choices, to understand better a potential link between gameplay and career choice.
The key findings relate to the positive emotive language utilised by the participants, a suggested link between gameplay, the concept of a 'gamer' and the choice of the games industry as a career, and serious concerns of abusive online gaming behaviour experienced by females. By adopting a subtle realist approach this study found a strong emotive view of
games and the games development courses created a quantifiable link to a career. A high level of identifiable traits, traditionally considered both masculine and feminine, suggested that an outmoded view of gender stereotypes also appeared to negatively affect career choice.
From the findings further research is suggested in relation to experiences of females both within the industry and at secondary school. At a wider level this study suggests both games courses and the industry would benefit from incorporating both traditionally masculine and feminine traits as part of developing more effective and inclusive recruitment strategies. Finally further research is proposed regarding how games and the gaming community relate to females both as characters and as players.