ABSTRACT
Magazines and comics, long criticized for perpetuating gender stereotypes, could be influential in changing girls’ perceptions if there was the editorial will. One aspect of children’s interaction with screen technology that has attracted debate is the question of gender. Research studies into gender differences have been notoriously difficult to conduct and interpret. A number of commentators have noted that the content of computer games seems to perpetuate gender stereotypes. Research so far conducted into video game playing suggests that boys and girls are equally attracted up the age of ten but that from then on the aggressive themes of much of the game software has the effect of deterring girls from computers in general. The aspect of game content that was more frequently mentioned by teachers and parents was violence and aggression. Links have been demonstrated between amount of time spent playing on computer games and levels of aggression.
