GAMING AND GENDER POLITICS: FEMALES NAVIGATING TOXICITY IN ONLINE MULTIPLAYER GAMES

Abstract

Online Multiplayer Games, have been a source of entertainment and a place for people to socialize for many years. Still, slowly its environment has become hostile for female players where they are constantly facing gender-based toxicity. This qualitative study investigated the experiences  of female players, their coping mechanisms, and how the toxic behavior affected them over time. Using Social Dominance Theory (SDT) explains how society is affected by both personal and social discrimination, and it describes how the male-dominated gaming space is reinforcing stereotypes and gender inequalities on female players.  
A total of eight interviews were conducted, and the players were chosen through a purposive sampling method. According to the findings, female players mentioned some of the toxic behaviours they faced; explicit in-game sabotage, verbal abuse, sexualized remarks, and exclusion 
from team-based activities. Participants also reported coping mechanisms such as; avoiding voice chat, changing avatars, and concealing their voice. By restricting female participants, these practices serve to uphold male dominance in gaming, which aligns with SDT. 
In the West, there is abundant research on the toxic environment of games but little attention has been given in non-western countries like Pakistan. This study has addressed a critical gap in the literature regarding toxicity faced by female players on gaming platforms in Pakistan.