Abstract
With the surge of lawsuits in 2021 against video game companies alleging
gender discrimination, it is evident that sexism and misogyny run rampant
within the video game industry, but two questions remain. What causes,
if any, may be attributable to the misogynistic mindset of male gamers? And
what can the video game industry and the law do to rectify the dominance of
“frat boy culture” that continues to plague women—regardless of whether
they are casual or professional gamers, or regular employees in game developing
companies?
California’s labor laws are supposed to be the most protective of employees;
yet two lawsuits in particular—McCracken v. Riot Games, Inc. and
Department of Fair Employment & Housing v. Activision Blizzard—highlight
the need for heightened scrutiny to properly acknowledge how the law
does not adequately implement solutions to gender discrimination. This Note
analyzes the psychological roots of sexism in male gamers, diving deep into
the lack of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the esports industry, and suggests
practical resolutions to properly address the toxicity against women in
the video game world, both online and offline.
Recommended Citation
Lauren Cho,
The Downward Spiral of the Misogynistic Video Game Industry: It's Truly Up to the "Last Of Us",
42 Loy. L.A. Ent. L. Rev. 175
(2022).
Available at: https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/elr/vol42/iss3/1
