Running head: GAMER STEREOTYPES AND GENDER “I Play So I Am?” A Gender Study into Stereotype Perception and Genre Choice of Digital Game Players

Over the past decade, a growing number of women have started playing digital games. However, stereotypes are still prevalent in game culture. This study aims to gain insight into these practices by looking at gaming stereotypes on two different, yet interrelated, levels. First, we inquire into perceptions of gamers regarding gender-related and general gamer stereotypes and how these relate to playing frequency. Second, game genre choice is investigated in light of player’s gender and how this is associated with playing motivations. Results of a survey study (N = 962) suggest that high frequency male players hold the least stereotypical ideas about digital gamers, while high frequency female players disagree the most with gender-related stereotypical beliefs. Additionally, we found that high frequency female players are more strongly drawn towards specific game genres, suggesting that playing motives of these gamers are higher than their beliefs that gaming is a typically male pursuit.