Cultivating community: Presentation of self among women game streamers in Singapore and the Philippines

Abstract

This study explored how women game live streamers in Singapore and the Philippines make sense of their presentation of self as performers and gamers in a medium dominated by Western games, performers, and platforms. We conducted six in-depth interviews guided by interpretive phenomenological analysis in order to understand their experiences, uncovering issues such as audience connection and maintenance, the difficulties of presenting their own femininity, and the influence of being Singaporean, Filipina, and Asian on their success as performers. We discuss directions for study that further explore gaming and streaming as a form of cultural labor in Asia.