Georgia State University ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University Sociology Theses Department of Sociology Spring 5-9-2015 Gender Games: A Content Analysis Of Gender Portrayals In Modern, Narrative Video Games Jared Friedberg Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/sociology_theses Recommended Citation Friedberg, Jared, "Gender Games: A Content Analysis Of Gender Portrayals In Modern, Narrative Video Games." Thesis, Georgia State University, 2015. https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/sociology_theses/52 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Sociology at ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Sociology Theses by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. GENDER GAMES: A CONTENT ANALYSIS OF GENDER PORTRAYALS IN MODERN, NARRA- TIVE VIDEO GAMES by JARED FRIEDBERG Under the Direction of Dr. Wendy Simonds ABSTRACT Video games are a multi-billion dollar industry; 67% of households in the United States have at least one game player. The considerable reach of this medium makes it crucial to assess the messages that audiences are taking away concerning gender in these games. In this content analysis, I investigate the representation of binary gender in the narratives of modern video games from the perspective of cultiva- tion theory. Ten popular games from 2007 through 2013 are selected for this investigation. The character- istics of each game’s main character are evaluated in the context of the narrative to uncover emergent trends, tropes, and themes over the course of gameplay. Men outnumber women in protagonist roles, and women serve as catalysts for the central conflicts throughout the narrative.