Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

An Examination of Violence and Gender Role Portrayals in Video Games: Implications for Gender Socialization and Aggressive Behavior

  • Published:
Sex Roles Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Using content analysis, this research examinesthe portrayal of women and the use of violent themes ina sample of 33 popular Nintendo and Sega Genesis videogames. It is proposed that video games, like other media forms, impact the identity ofchildren. This analysis reveals that traditional genderroles and violence are central to many games in thesample. There were no female characters in 41% of the games with characters. In 28% of these, womenwere portrayed as sex objects. Nearly 80% of the gamesincluded aggression or violence as part of the strategyor object. While 27% of the games containedsociallyacceptable aggression, nearlyhalf included violencedirected specifically at others and 21% depictedviolence directed at women. Most of the characters inthe games were Anglo.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Adams, K. L., & Ware, N. C. (1989). Sexism and the English language: The linuistic implicatins of being a woman. In J. Freeman (Ed.), Women: A feminist perspective (4th ed.). Mountain View, CA: Mayfield Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Babbage. (1995). EGM's hot top tens. Electronic Gaming Monthly, 68, 44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bialeschki, M. D. (1990). The feminist movement and women's participation in physical recreation. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, 61, 44–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bell, S. T., Kuriloff, P. J., Lottes, I., Nathanson, J., Judge, T., & Fogelson-Turet, K. (1992). Rape callousness in college freshman: An empirical investigation of the sociocultural model of aggression towards women. Journal of College Student Development, 33, 454–461.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brabant, S. & Mooney, L. (1986). Sex-role stereotyping in the Sunday comics: Ten years later. Sex Roles, 14, 141–148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burt, M. R. (1980). Cultural myths and supports for rape. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 38, 217–230.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cahill, S. E. (1994). And a child shall lead us? Children, gender and perspectives by incongruity. In N. J. Herman & L. T. Reynolds (Eds.), Symbolic interaction: An introduction to social psychology. Dix Hills, NY: General Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cantor, M. G. (1987). Popular culture and the portrayal of women: Content & control. In B. B. Hess and M. M. Ferree (Eds.), Analyzing gender: A handbook of social science research. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, V. W. (1985). Women in popular music: A quantitative analysis of feminine images. Sex roles, 13, 499–506.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, A. J. (1984). Sex-differentiated behaviors in non-sexist picture books. Sex Roles, 11(1), 1–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dominick, J. R. (1984). Videogames, television violence, and aggression in teenagers. Journal of Communication, 34, 136–147.

    Google Scholar 

  • Durkin, L. (1985). Television and sex role acquisition I. British Journal of Social Psychology, 24, 101–113.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fagot, B. I. (1984). Teacher and peer reactions to boys' and girls' play styles. Sex Roles, 11, 691–702.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferree, M. M. (1990). Beyond separate spheres: Feminism and family research. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 52, 866–884.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freeman, J. (1985). Growing up girlish: The social construction of the second sex. In W. Feigelman (Ed.), Sociology: Full circle (4th ed.). Fort Worth, TX: Holt, Rinehart, & Winston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gamson, W. A., Croteau, D., Hoynes, W. & Sasson, T. (1992). Media images and the social construction of reality. Annual Sociological Review, 18, 373–393.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gerbner, G., Gross, L., Morgan, M. & Signorielli, N. (1986). Living with television: The dynamics of the cultivation process. In J. Bryant & D. Zillman (Eds.), Perspectives on media effects. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goffman, E. (1979). Gender advertisements. New York: Harper & Row.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herman, D. F. (1989). The rape culture. In J. Freeman Women: A feminist perspective (4th Ed). Mountain View, CA: Mayfield Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hickman, C. A., & Kuhn, M. H. (1956). Individuals, groups, and economic behavior. New York: Dryden Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Katz, P. A., & Boswell, S. (1986). Flexibility and traditionality in children's gender roles. Genetic, Social, and General Psychology Monographs, 112, 103–147.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kolbe, R., & LaVoie, J. C. (1982). Sex-role stereotyping in preschool children's picture books. Social Psychology Quarterly, 44, 369–374.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lande, R. G. (1993). The video violence debate. Hospital and Community Psychiatry, 44, 347–351.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mead, G. H. (1934, 1962). Mind, self, and society, C. Morris (Ed.). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Merriam, E. (1968). We're teaching our children that violence is fun. In O. N. Larson (Ed.), Violence and the mass media. New York: Harper.

    Google Scholar 

  • Milkie, M. A. (1994). Social world approach to cultural studies: Mass media and gender in the adolescent peer group. Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, 23, 354–380.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ogletree, S. M., Williams, S. W., Raffeld, P., Mason, B., & Fricke, K. (1990). Female attractiveness and eating disorders: Do children's television commercials play a role? Sex Roles, 22, 791–797.

    Google Scholar 

  • Purcell, P., & Stewart, L. (1990). Dick and Jane in 1989. Sex Roles, 22, 177–185.

    Google Scholar 

  • Radecki, T. E. (1990). Television promotes teen violence. In J. Rohr (Ed.), Violence in American: Opposing Viewpoints. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott, D. (1995). The effect of video games on feelings of aggression. Journal of Psychology, 129, 121–132.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, M. H., & Drabman, R. S. (1975). Toleration of real life aggression as a function of exposure to televised violence and age of subject. Merrill Palmer Quarterly, 21, 227–232.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thorne, B. (1986). Girls and boys together... but mostly apart: Gender arrangements in elementary schools. In W. Hartup & Z. Rubin (Eds.), Relationships and development. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trepanier, M. L., & Romatowski, J. A. (1985). Attributes and roles assigned to characters in children's writing: Sex differences and sex-role perceptions. Sex Roles, 13, 263–272.

    Google Scholar 

  • Valois, R. F., McKeown, R. E., Garrison, C. Z., & Vincent, M. L. (1995). Correlates of aggressive and violent behaviors among public high school adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 16, 26–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilder, G., Mackie, D., & Cooper, J. (1985). Gender and computers: Two surveys of computer-related attitudes. Sex Roles, 13, 215–228.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Tracy L. Dietz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dietz, T.L. An Examination of Violence and Gender Role Portrayals in Video Games: Implications for Gender Socialization and Aggressive Behavior. Sex Roles 38, 425–442 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018709905920

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018709905920

Keywords

Search

Navigation