Performing Hegemonic Masculine Behaviours in Video Games By - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Performing Hegemonic Masculine Behaviours in Video Games By Jonathan Lee and Wang Ruofan

Hegemonic Masculinity A practice that legitimizes powerful men's dominant position in society and justifies the subordination of the common male population and women, and other marginalized ways of being a man

Gender performance theory by Judith Butler •Gender behaviours do not arise from innate gender characteristics •Reinforced as we repeatedly behave in a particular way •Which conforms with traditional gender roles and social construct

Traits which define hegemonic masculinity ● Aggressiveness ● Power ● Material success ● Muscular physique

Hypothesis Masculine behaviours are performative to a large extent

Experimental Approach

•Allow players to experiment with gender identity. Computer games •Experiment with different gender behaviours The Sims 3 •Safe and effective, freedom of choice

Rationale of choosing qualitative research method • study every action done by the Qualitative participant Research • fully analyse counter- performing behaviours or instead reinforce such behaviours.

Criteria to search for participants 1. Aged above 21 2. Has served National Service (NS) 3. Able to play computer games

Experimental process Day 1: Testing Days 2&3: Actual recording of gameplay Followed up with an interview session Rationale: to compare behaviours observed during gameplay with his beliefs on each individual trait of hegemonic masculinity

Coding matrix

Results analysis

Conclusion Hegemonic masculine behaviours were performative to a large extent in the game Sims 3.

Future work 1. Increase sample size of participants to obtain a mean value of all data sets and apply statistical analysis to see if there is a significant difference in results and to increase reliability of results. 2. Collect data from males pre-NS and the same males post-NS to verify whether NS reinforces such hegemonic masculine traits. 3. Collect data from both males and females of the same age group to verify whether gender affects the extent of hegemonic masculine traits. 4. Collect data for the same set of males throughout their entire lives to determine if hegemonic masculine behaviours changes with age.

Thank You :)