University of the Western Cape
Outside gaymers: queerness, and race in online gaming culture in South Africa
Abstract
dc:description.abstractThis research project looks at how virtual worlds can provide a space for queer people of colour to experiment with their identities, sexualities and gender. It therefore focuses on how South African queer youth make use of virtual spaces to explore their identities and gender expressions. I ask what experimentation and expression look like in online worlds with their assumed endless potentiality. I examine how gender is expressed and experimented within virtual gaming spaces that are simultaneously considered "safe" and where cyberviolence against marginalised groups is nonetheless present. As the virtual worlds are typically navigated through avatars, this research looks at how identities are rooted in users ’embodied experiences as well as in their offline practices. It explores the roles that gaymers ’physical and digital bodies play in the construction of virtual subjectivities and identity performances. The main participants to this study are South African, non-white youngsters who identify as queer, between the ages of 18 to 26, with particular focus on Cape Town. The online spaces that are studied are those associated with gaming, specifically the action roleplaying game (ARPG) Genshin Impact. In-game experiences are investigated, as well as gamer experiences on social networking sites connected with the Genshin Impact community, such as the gaming forums on Reddit and Discord. Participant observation in gaming environments, conversations, online chats, and face-to-face interviews give valuable insight into gaymers' experiences, their alternative gender representations, creativity and gender expression.
Degree
thesis:*- Grantor dc:publisher.institution
- University of the Western Cape
- Year dc:date.issued
- 2024
Author and committee
dc:creator, dc:contributor.*- Author dc:creator
-
- Hoosain, Aneesah
- Advisor dc:contributor.advisor
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- Forte, Jung Ran Annachiara