The reassertion of hegemonic masculinity through videogames

Abstract

The article analyzed the reassertion of hegemonic masculinity that videogames can favor in their videogamers. The study took Gears of War as a reference and its objective was to determine if gender stereotypes are diffused through the characters of this videogame and how this influenced the vision of hegemonic masculinity perceived by the gamers of this saga. For this purpose, a Likert instrument was used, which allowed access to the perception of gamers on key aspects in the reassertion of hegemonic masculinity included in the game, such as violent behavior, the use of offensive language, the importance of physique, among other. From the analysis it was established that, despite the fact that the protagonists are violent, chauvinists and hegemonic men, most of the participants did not perceive these traits as such in the characters. The conscious non-identification of this type of aspects reflects that there is a normalization of hegemonic discourse that favours its invisibility.