The percentage of women gamers has grown exponentially over the past few decades. Regardless, the notion that videogames are inherently male activity persists. As a results, many women gamers become target of mockery and harassment for ‘invading the male space.’ The goal of this study is to compare and analyze the different efforts women put in in order to prevent, mitigate, and cope with sexual harassment and sexism they face when playing online videogames. In addition, the study also examines the different in-game, as well as real life consequences of the negative interactions and their efforts against them. One-hour videocall interviews were conducted with 23 women over the age of 18 who have played multiplayer videogames within the last 12 months. They were recruited through a flyer posted on an online forum, as well as its distribution through extended personal networks.

The study found that despite their efforts, women find themselves becoming a victim of harassment, including unsolicited flirtations, unwanted sexual attention, and degradation of status as a gamer. More importantly, however, many women refused or did not care to put in the efforts to prevent them, because they were seen as either unfair or unnecessary. These negative encounters with men in online videogames had adverse effect not only in the women’s experience in playing videogames, but also in real life, such as alternating the way they interact with men, putting strain on their existing relationships, or loss of interest in videogames.  

This research mends the gap in existing literature by understanding videogame players as agents with the power to make their own decisions and influence their environment, instead of helpless subjects of the media form, while highlighting the fact that interactions in videogames have consequences that are not limited to its virtual confines.