Year: 2024
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: This paper reports work addressing the research question "could a Bechdel-like test be an indication of how women are represented in video games?" through developing such a test for video games: the Indicative Representation of Women In Games (IRWiG) test. We describe its development process: a multidisciplinary approach combining a literature review with the development and application of ontologies representing the constructional elements of games that relate to portrayal of women. The IRWiG test was evaluated through a public evaluation survey and an internally-conducted games analysis. The test proposes four criteria for analysing a female character: her character development, appearance, abilities and relevant stereotypes, and the skippability of content in which she is active. An overall agreement rate of 74% was found between users' opinions of how a woman is represented in a game, and the application of the IRWiG test.
Authors: Mio Firkins, Ruth Aylett
Institution: Heriot-Watt University
Language: English
Topic: Digital Games and Media
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
OpenAlex ID: W4408260192