The “Reality” of Misogyny in Online Gaming Communities : A Qualitative Study on Female Minecraft Players

Abstract: This study explores the implications of misogyny in the virtual and physical worlds. The 2014 GamerGate scandal shed light on the immense violence to which female gamers and gaming entertainment consumers are so frequently exposed to. Minecraft is the most played mass online multiplayer game in the world with over 100 million copies sold. The open gameplay mode of Minecraft and the non-linearity of the objective of the game has grown into a lush ground for violence, as there are seldom physical or virtual repercussions for verbal violence online. Gendertrolling has become a pastime within the gaming world on its own and focuses on specifically targeting women and ranges from benign jokes to violent threats of rape and murder. There seems to be a feeling of lack of physical world consequences for those that keep women from fully participating online. By drawing upon the concept of digital dualism, this study discusses the implications of being exposed to online threats online and women’s self-regulation and ways of navigating the hostility of the online gaming world.