gender+attraction

=>> Stereotyping = Return to homepage  Nowadays no matter where someone is from, or what culture they come from, it would be easy to round up a group of people sharing the same passion for video games. Although people worldwide may share this similar interest, the diversity of characters played in games does not portray today's variety of cultures fairly. With the help of new technology and programs, people are now able to enforce stereotypical characters into games that can then easily influence younger generations. In surveys it revealed that in the majority of popular games, white people played a more dominate role than those non-white. People may continue to play on video games, but it is important that the racial stereotyping should not be unnoticed by the public.

In 2001 a study, called //Fair Play? Violence, Gender and Race in Video Games//, from a US-based organisation found that African American, Asian, Hispanic and Native American males were rarely found in the selection of seven different game systems examined. They also found that there were more white female characters than those from a different race. -86% of heroes depicted in video games were white -Eight out of ten African American males were depicted as competitors in a sports game -Latinos were only seen in sports games, with the majority of them in baseball -Seven out of ten Asians were depicted as fighters or wrestlers -In video games, 86% of African American females were a victim of violence - African American females were victimised twice as much as white females -79% of African American males took part in physical and verbal aggression, whilst only 57% of white competitors in sporting games would engage in aggression. ||< ||
 * <  Based on their research, the organisation found that:-

As more young people interact with video games, stereotypical images influence their perspective of each race, culture, religion and gender. The use of computer games is a powerful way in which game-makers are able to easily (although maybe not subconsciously) send negative racist thoughts to those unaware.

By making children conscious of the ideas conveyed in video games, posters, television and the media, they will develop a better understanding of the negative portrayals of different races. Talking to children about what stereotyping is and the different perspectives people look at, can help eliminate the child from commenting in a racial manner at school and in the wider community.

bibliography: http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/parents/video_games/concerns/race_videogames.cfm