Masculinity influences on Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs) among students from selected State Universities in Zimbabwe

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of masculinity on student participation and experiences in Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs) among selected students at state universities in Zimbabwe, with a specific focus on League of Legends. Through a mixed-methods study of 750 students across three universities, the research demonstrates that hegemonic masculinity plays an influential role in male students' gaming preferences, player character choices, and social behaviours. The results suggest that online gaming spaces in Zimbabwe are characterised by hyper-masculinity and are hyper-male environments, which see masculine stereotypes and behaviours both reinforced by the structure of game design and social interactions within them. Typical social norms and hegemonic masculine profiles are reproduced in gameplay, where female players are more likely to choose a role of a gender neutral or fluid character who becomes subjected to marginalisation. Connell’s use of theory, constructed as hegemonic masculinity, reveals the extent to which gaming practices are structured by culture and how gender norms in media perpetuate inequities across digital spaces. The findings underscore the need for initiatives to counter hegemonic masculinity and the creation of gendered meanings in gaming by designing game interventions that promote inclusiveness and diversity, thereby fostering more equitable gaming communities. These contributions can further our understanding of virtual gender dynamics in Africa and shed light on potential measures to promote the development of inclusive e-gaming environments.