Date of Award
Fall 2021
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Media & Communication; College of Arts & Sciences
First Advisor
Lisa Holderman
Second Advisor
Alan Powell
Abstract
The key focus of this essay is to compare the representation of black women in media, primarily in television and film, to the representation of black female characters in video games. Using black feminist theory, this essay illustrates the treatment of black female characters in gaming. The particular and deliberate methods of writing black female characters in video games are used to highlight white video game characters and their narratives, instead of giving life and dimension to the black female characters themselves. The hostile and unsafe environments in gaming spaces are cultivated through upholding these harmful stereotypes of black women, and they directly harm black women who enjoy gaming.
Recommended Citation
Gadson, Bug, "Art Imitates Life: The Representation (Or Lack Thereof) of Black Women in Video Games" (2021). Capstone Showcase. 1.
https://scholarworks.arcadia.edu/showcase/2022/media_communication/1
Included in
Digital Humanities Commons, Other Film and Media Studies Commons, Women's Studies Commons
Art Imitates Life: The Representation (Or Lack Thereof) of Black Women in Video Games
The key focus of this essay is to compare the representation of black women in media, primarily in television and film, to the representation of black female characters in video games. Using black feminist theory, this essay illustrates the treatment of black female characters in gaming. The particular and deliberate methods of writing black female characters in video games are used to highlight white video game characters and their narratives, instead of giving life and dimension to the black female characters themselves. The hostile and unsafe environments in gaming spaces are cultivated through upholding these harmful stereotypes of black women, and they directly harm black women who enjoy gaming.