Cultural Representation in Games

 People play video games to experience themselves through characters they control - but unfortunately that doesn't always happen.

Video game protagonists tend to be white and male - likely as a result of game development workforce being predominantly composed of white men. But this article will examine what this change means for gamers and why it matters.

1. Diverse Characters

Video games have historically been accused of gender and cultural bias; however, in recent years there has been an effort to create more diverse gaming content; this means more nuanced depictions of characters and storylines, as well as inclusion of multiple ethnicities.

Gamers enjoy playing an assortment of video games, with women making up half of all gamers. Unfortunately, female characters in most major game franchises tend to be depicted with unrealistic white beauty standards that create hypersexualized portrayals that fall outside their intended roles as role models for other women gamers.

As examples of such gender stereotyping in videogames, consider GTA V, Sheva Alomar from Resident Evil and Jade from Mortal Kombat - although more positive representation can be seen elsewhere, including Sleeping Dogs which draws upon Chinese culture for an open world setting and Guacamelee which features an authentic Mexican-American protagonist without stereotypical portrayals.

2. Ethnic Diversity

Video games at Сonquestador provide a virtual escape into another world, but for people of marginalized identities it can be challenging to feel part of that culture when they don't see themselves represented onscreen. Diversity within gaming culture - be it LGBTQ characters, characters from diverse cultural backgrounds or characters with disabilities - is of utmost importance and should be celebrated.

Although many games have become more diverse over time, much still needs to be done. One such challenge is cultural appropriation found in games; from Custer's Revenge and GTA through Far Cry and Resident Evil many don't show enough understanding or sensitivity towards their source material compared to Never Alone Michonne and Guacamelee which do a fantastic job of accurately representing cultures worldwide.

3. Gender Diversity

Although gamers have become an increasingly diverse audience, video game characters and settings rarely reflect this diversity. Women and nonbinary people are hypersexualized in games (25% displaying revealing clothing or some form of nudity; 12% in some state of nudity); while men are underrepresented and seen as aggressive.

Gaming companies also face difficulties forming corporate cultures that create an inequitable work environment and hinder women in terms of advancement opportunities. Bafta research suggests this "bro culture" has been an impediment to women pursuing gaming careers as an industry.

However, some games have taken steps to increase gender representation in gaming. Redfall features playable characters from diverse backgrounds. 2021 release Hades also allows you to romance female and male characters of varying ethnicities and orientations.

4. Sexuality Diversity

Video games are an international entertainment industry with the power to have an enormously positive impact on culture. But too often they reinforce harmful stereotypes and exclude marginalised identities - creating feelings of exclusion and alienation, especially among non-heteronormative players.

Harmful depictions of gender and sexuality can contribute to objectification of women and other minority groups, for instance early iterations of Tomb Raider using female protagonist Lara Croft as a sexualized sex symbol, degrading her agency and abilities as an adventurer.

Gaming industry developers have increasingly become aware of the need for greater diversity, with many including characters from diverse backgrounds in their games. But more needs to be done - particularly regarding LGBTQ+ representation in games.

5. Disability Diversity

Video games are becoming more inclusive, and discussions surrounding diversity, inclusion and accessibility are growing within the industry. Unfortunately, one area often neglected is disability representation.

Though progress is being made towards including disabled characters in media, they remain largely stereotyped and under-represented; especially those afflicted by mental health disabilities that impact many gamers.

Games that allow players to choose among an assortment of characters and locations provide an excellent way for people living with disability to imagine themselves in these scenarios. For instance, an insomniac player could choose their avatar sleeping in their own bed in response to being reminded about an appointment, while someone living with ADHD might use whiteboards scattered about as tools to help remember things better.