Abstract
This study explores the experiences of Bangladeshi female gamers in online multiplayer gaming spaces, focusing on the marginalizing messages they encounter, the emotional and social impacts, and the coping strategies they use. Although online gaming is often seen as an open and inclusive digital space, for many women it remains shaped by sexism, exclusion, and cyberbullying. In Bangladesh, these experiences are further influenced by patriarchal norms, moral policing, and gendered expectations. Using a qualitative research design, this study employed in-depth semi-structured interviews with Bangladeshi female gamers who actively participate in online multiplayer games, along with cyber-ethnographic observation of gaming-related Facebook groups and online interactions. The data were analyzed through thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns across participants’ experiences. The findings reveal that female gamers frequently encounter sexist jokes, verbal abuse, body shaming, stalking, trolling, exclusion from teams, moral judgment, and financial exploitation. Participants reported emotional distress, anxiety, stress, anger, low self-esteem, and self-doubt, with these effects often extending into offline life and personal relationships. To cope, participants used strategies such as muting voice chat, hiding gender identity, avoiding random teams, blocking users, relying on trusted people, and selective confrontation. The study argues that online gaming spaces reproduce broader patriarchal power structures, forcing women to constantly negotiate between participation and protection. This research contributes to understanding gendered digital harassment in Bangladesh and highlights the need for safer and more inclusive gaming environments.
Advisor
Deepa Oommen
Committee Member
Justin Rudnick
Committee Member
Afroza Anwary
Date of Degree
2026
Language
english
Document Type
Thesis
Degree
Master of Arts (MA)
Program of Study
Communication and Media Studies
Department
Communication and Media
College
Humanities and Social Sciences
Recommended Citation
Tari, T. T. (2026). Marginalizing messages, emotional impacts, and coping strategies: Exploring the experiences of Bangladeshi female gamers in online multiplayer gaming spaces [Master’s thesis, Minnesota State University, Mankato]. Cornerstone: A Collection of Scholarly and Creative Works for Minnesota State University, Mankato. https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/etds/1631/
Included in
Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication Commons, Women's Studies Commons
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