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Play like a Feminist.

Part of Playful Thinking

Author Shira Chess
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Hardcover
$26.95 US
The MIT Press
On sale Aug 18, 2020 | 184 Pages | 9780262044387
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An important new voice provides an empowering look at why video games need feminism—and why all of us should make space for more play in our lives.

You play like a girl: It’s meant to be an insult, accusing a player of subpar, un-fun playing. If you’re a girl, and you grow up, do you “play like a woman”—whatever that means?
 
In this provocative and enlightening book, Shira Chess urges us to play like feminists. Playing like a feminist is empowering and disruptive—it exceeds the boundaries of gender yet still advocates for gender equality. Roughly half of all players identify as female, and “Gamergate” galvanized many of gaming’s disenfranchised voices. Chess argues games are in need of a creative platform-expanding, metaphysical explosion—and feminism can take us there. She reflects on the importance of play, playful protest, and how feminist video games can help us rethink the ways that we tell stories. Feminism needs video games as much as video games need feminism.
 
Play and games can be powerful. Chess’s goal is for all of us—regardless of gender orientation, ethnicity, ability, social class, or stance toward feminism—to spend more time playing as a tool of radical disruption.
Introduction: Why Feminism and Why Play?
1: Playing Like a Girl
2: PWNing Leisure
3: Play to Protest
4: Gaming Feminism
5: Gaming in Circles
Conclusion: Play More"
Shira Chess is Associate Professor of Entertainment and Media Studies at the University of Georgia and the author of Ready Player Two.
Shira Chess View titles by Shira Chess

About

An important new voice provides an empowering look at why video games need feminism—and why all of us should make space for more play in our lives.

You play like a girl: It’s meant to be an insult, accusing a player of subpar, un-fun playing. If you’re a girl, and you grow up, do you “play like a woman”—whatever that means?
 
In this provocative and enlightening book, Shira Chess urges us to play like feminists. Playing like a feminist is empowering and disruptive—it exceeds the boundaries of gender yet still advocates for gender equality. Roughly half of all players identify as female, and “Gamergate” galvanized many of gaming’s disenfranchised voices. Chess argues games are in need of a creative platform-expanding, metaphysical explosion—and feminism can take us there. She reflects on the importance of play, playful protest, and how feminist video games can help us rethink the ways that we tell stories. Feminism needs video games as much as video games need feminism.
 
Play and games can be powerful. Chess’s goal is for all of us—regardless of gender orientation, ethnicity, ability, social class, or stance toward feminism—to spend more time playing as a tool of radical disruption.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Why Feminism and Why Play?
1: Playing Like a Girl
2: PWNing Leisure
3: Play to Protest
4: Gaming Feminism
5: Gaming in Circles
Conclusion: Play More"

Author

Shira Chess is Associate Professor of Entertainment and Media Studies at the University of Georgia and the author of Ready Player Two.
Shira Chess View titles by Shira Chess

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