Depictions of Female Protagonists in Digital Games: A Narrative Analysis of 2013 DICE Award-Winning Digital Games. Issue 8 (December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Perreault, Mildred F.; Perreault, Gregory Pearson; Jenkins, Joy; Morrison, Ariel
• Is Part Of: Games and culture. Volume 13:Issue 8(2018)
• Page Start: 843
• Page End: 860
• Publication Date: 2018-12
• Subjects: The Last of Us -- Tomb Raider -- Beyond: Two Souls -- Bioshock Infinite -- narrative theory -- digital games -- narrative -- gender; Games -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Video games -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Computer games -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Interactive multimedia -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; 303.4834
• DOI: 10.1177/1555412016679584
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1555-4120

Abstract

Digital games historically hold a spotty record on gender depictions. The lack of depth in female characters has long been the norm; however, an increasing number of female protagonists are headlining games. This study used narrative theory to examine depictions of four female protagonists in four 2013 Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain Award-Winning Digital Games: The Last of Us, Bioshock Infinite, Tomb Raider, and Beyond: Two Souls . Studying these media depictions provides context for how women's stories are recorded in society. Stereotype subversions largely occur within familiar game narratives, and the female protagonists were still largely limited and defined by male figures in the games.