Gaming Culture Leading to Gender Exclusivity in Video Games in the United States

The STS research delves into the systemic gender imbalance in video games participation, analyzing how deep rooted social norms have deterred women from engaging with video games. Through examining the cyclical relation between children's toys, industry norms, the toxic masculinity environment of gaming, this project reveals how gender expectations start shaping technology engagement from a young age. The Social Construction of Technology (SCOT) theory provided a framework for understanding why social context is crucial to examine when it comes to technology engagement. Technology isn't inherently gendered, rather the social attitudes towards technology are constructed and maintained through human actions and decisions.

School of Engineering and Applied Science

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

Technical Advisor: Rosanne Vrugtman

STS Advisor: Caitlin Wylie