Virtual or Reality? Elements of Masculinities Across Video Game Play Contexts

The purpose of this project is to identify differences in the elements of masculinities associated with single player, online multiplayer, and offline multiplayer video game play contexts. Messner’s (2002) tri-level gender framework is used to compare the structural, cultural, and performative components of gender across these environments. The systematic differences highlighted in this research across the three contexts are likely to be related to important differences in how male gamers perceive and construct masculine identities. In short, this study demonstrates that it is insufficient to examine only the content of the video games people play. The social context in which they are played and consumed is also important.