Occupational segregation is an important issue and can be detrimental to women. There is a strong need for more women in science, engineering, and information technology, which are traditionally male dominated fields. Female representation in the computer gaming industry is a potential way to increase the presence of women in other computer-related fields.
Gender Considerations and Influence in the Digital Media and Gaming Industry provides a collection of high-quality empirical studies and personal experiences of women working in male-dominated fields with a particular focus on the media and gaming industries. Providing insight on best methods for attracting and retaining women in these fields, this volume is a valuable reference for executives and members of professional bodies who wish to encourage women in their career progression.
The many academic areas covered in this publication include, but are not limited to:
International contributors to this book include scholars in interactive media, computer science, and mass communications, as well as practitioners in business areas such as gender and diversity management, and researchers and practitioners in interactive games and media, online gaming, and cyber psychology. Section 1 explores the interrelationships between education, computers, and gaming. Section 2 is devoted to the experiences of women working in the computer games industry around the world; in addition to four full chapters on the topic, this section also contains profiles of 12 women working in the computer games industry. Section 3 looks at future trends. Some specific subjects include the role of gaming in men’s and women’s educational goals, gender and children’s gaming, women’s participation in the Australian digital content industry, and career development among Japanese female game developers. Of special interest is a framework for addressing gender imbalance in the game industry through outreach.