The Double-Edged Sword of Online Gaming: An Analysis of Masculinity in Video Games and the Gaming Community

This groundbreaking study examines masculinity and representations of different identities (gender, race, LGBTQIA+ individuals, disability, age, and body size) in the most popular video games and in the TWITCH online gaming community. The Oak Foundation has partnered with the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media e Equimundo to examine representations of the aforementioned identities and masculinity in video games and gaming communities. Given pressing global concerns about the societal impacts of toxic masculinity and the ever-growing popularity of video gaming around the globe, alongside the COVID-19 pandemic that facilitated greater interest and participation in gaming, this work is more important than ever. This study contributes to the Global Boyhood Initiative coordinated by Equimundo, a new international effort to promote and support healthy boyhood.