Beyond Barbie and Mortal Kombat: New Perspectives on Gender and Gaming

Yasmin B. Kafai, Carrie Heeter, Jill Denner, Jennifer Y. Sun

Ten years after the groundbreaking From Barbie to Mortal Kombat highlighted the ways gender stereotyping and related social and economic issues permeate digital game play, the number of women and girl gamers has risen considerably. Despite this, gender disparities remain in gaming. Women may be warriors in World of Warcraft, but they are also scantily clad “booth babes” whose sex appeal is used to promote games at trade shows. Player-generated content has revolutionized gaming, but few games mar...