Award Date

12-15-2025

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Psychology

First Committee Member

Rachael Robnett

Second Committee Member

Joanne Ullman

Third Committee Member

Gloria Wong-Padoongpatt

Fourth Committee Member

Minkyo Lee

Number of Pages

64

Abstract

This research focused on women who identify as gamers (i.e., an individual who regularly plays video games) with the goal of better understanding how being a gamer might help or hinder women’s interest in computer science careers. In particular, I examined the connection between interest in computer science careers, gaming, sexual harassment experiences, coping strategies, and allyship for women in gaming using a mixed-methods approach. The sample (N = 166) included women identifying as previous or current gamers. Participants were recruited from a psychology participant pool and gaming communities on Discord. We conducted a series of analyses to examine whether time spent gaming, gamer identity, sexual harassment experiences, allyship, and coping strategies predicted future interest in computer science careers. Across all models, no significant effects were observed. Although these null findings indicate that the variables measured in this study were not associated with women’s science career interest, qualitative analyses provided additional context by exploring women’s narratives about their experiences with sexual harassment and allyship in gaming. The findings highlighted the important role of allyship in mitigating the harm of sexual harassment. However, the majority o the time, bystanders did not intervene when women experienced sexual harassment while gaming. The prevalence of allyship depended heavily on factors such as timing, social context, and the presence of familiar or trusted individuals. Future research should explore additional variables, such as genre diversity, to gain a clearer understanding of how gaming experiences may shape interest in computer science. Additionally, promoting greater male allyship and implementing interventions (e.g., stricter platform policies and social norm interventions) could play a key role in creating a safer, more inclusive gaming space for women

Keywords

Allyship; Computer Science; Gaming; Sexual Harassment; Women

Disciplines

Psychology | Social and Behavioral Sciences | Social Psychology

File Format

PDF

File Size

686 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

Rights

IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

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