End Sexual Harassment in Gaming

ended

It is an undisputable fact that the gaming industry has developed enormously during the last decades. It appeals especially to the youth who spend a good number of hours gaming. Recent studies have shown that there is a gender gap in attitudes towards gaming which is illustrated in a variety of aspects and expressions. The time girls devote to games is limited compared to boys and as the girls mature their level of engagement with e-games tend to drop seriously as a result of gender bias and aggressive harassment for girls that game. Female gaming is a relatively under-researched area, and female gamers often report experiencing harassment whilst playing online (McLean, L. & Griffiths, M.D. (2018). Female Gamers’ Experience of Online Harassment and Social Support in Online Gaming: A Qualitative Study, International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 1-25). The overall objective of the project is to develop and implement innovative practices to eliminate cyber harassment for female gamers through the development of an online game with associated tools to educate young girls on how to react to cases of cyber sexual harassment and further report incidents and eventually muting those who are often reported from online chat; the project will further promote awareness raising activities in specific contexts and the creation of a manual for online behaviour through which the stakeholders will promote a harassment-free gaming environment for all. In this framework, the proposed project aims to respond to cyber-harassment and empower the victims to claim their rights specifically targeting young female gamers (adolescent and adults).