Gender differences in the characteristics of gaming and esport aspirations in Hungary

Abstract

ABSTRACT In our paper, we present the research findings of our empirical survey conducted in Hungary related to the gender differences in the use, motivations, habits, and aspirations in video games and esports. The most important theoretical foundations of our research are provided by the critical feminist theory and, within that, the critical agenda and the feminist cultural studies (Birrell, 2000). These writings raise awareness of the fact that sport still has extremely masculine dimensions that have preserved the original uneven distribution of power for centuries. We consider esports as such a domain. Our research question relates to the gender proportions in video gaming, and we include the characteristics of the games played and the motivations of the players in our observations. In order to achieve the desired data, an online inventory was used (N = 338). Our results highlight that although modernisation and technical development profoundly transformed and determined our daily life, including our attitude to free time and sports, regardless of gender, social and geographical situation, the changes at the same time bring about certain forms of inequalities.