Mais que um jogo: o consumo de bens virtuais por mulheres gamers

Abstract

In the contemporary context, games no longer represent a hobby adopted by children only. In fact, the gaming practice has become popular amongst people from different age groups and economic classes. This article analyses sexism and the symbolic violence aimed at women gamers in the game League of Legends. We have conducted interviews with five gamers who play League of Legends in order to explore the relationships between sexism and the motivations for the consumption of virtual goods by women gamers. We also address the possession of skins as a tool for establishing identity representations for women as they seek acceptance in a group and/or attempt to escape from the sexism that characterises such gaming environments.