Self-Identity and Social Identity of Chinese Female Otome Game Players: Formation and Coping Strategies against Stereotypes

Absztrakt (kivonat)

In recent years, the popularity of story-based romance Otome video games featuring female protagonists and targeted towards female gamers in China has sparked diverse interpretations of female players' identities. These players are often labeled with specific social stereotypes due to their gaming interests, reflecting traditional societal expectations of gender roles while also highlighting the challenges they face in identity construction. Drawing on gender role theory (Butler, 1990; Eagly, 2004), social identity theory (Tajfel, 1960), and stereotype threat theory (Steele and Aronson, 1995), this study explores the stereotypes encountered by female Otome game players in Chinese society and their dual impact on players' self-identity and social identity. Through an online survey of 53 female Otome game players, this research uses a mixed-methods approach to examine the identity management strategies players adopt when facing conflicts between societal expectations and personal interests, and explores the emotional and behavioral effects of stereotypes on their gender identity. The findings shed light on the complexity of gender role construction within the subcultural phenomenon of Otome games, particularly its influence on social interactions and identity expression among players. This study aims to fill the research gap in the social identity of female Otome game players, deepen the application of gender communication theories in subcultural contexts, and provide theoretical insights on societal perceptions of subcultural groups.