# A Metasynthesis on Perceptions of Sexism Among Video Game Players and the Video Game Industry

## TL;DR

This study explores how sexism is perceived by male and female video game players and within the gaming industry.

## Contribution

It introduces a metasynthesis approach to analyze qualitative data on sexism in gaming environments.

## Key findings

- Female gamers face daily hostility in male-dominated environments.
- Three key themes emerged: normalized violence, strategies to confront sexism, and internal ambivalence.
- Sexism in gaming affects female players' identity and behavior.

## Abstract

Objective: This metasynthesis analyzes the current evidence on the perceptions of sexism among video game players (men and women) and the video game industry. Methods: The databases Scopus and ProQuest were used to select 15 qualitative studies in a final analysis. The analysis used the reciprocal translation technique to analyze and interpret the data. Results: Three primary themes emerged: normalized violence in gamer environments (n = 13), strategies to confront sexism/gender harassment (n = 10), and internal ambivalence and tension (n = 10). The results show that female videogame players experience daily hostility due to the fact of being women in an environment of male dominance. This leads to recurring confrontations, which can result in female video game players being questioned in terms of identity and behavior by both themselves and the community. Conclusions: This metasynthesis suggests that sexism in online video game environments is not an isolated phenomenon and directly affects the experience of female video game players. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of further exploring the perceptions and experiences of different groups within gamer communities, in order to make progress towards a more egalitarian and diverse culture.