Wed 11 December 2024, 5-6 pm. Please click here to join.
This seminar is hosted by the College of Law, Social & Criminal Justice Research Seminar Series. Our series offers exciting insights into ongoing research projects within the law school and conducted by our external research partners. We often feature work from our research centres. Join us for invigorating discussion!
In this session, we hear from Dr Ryan Scoats. Ryan Scoats is a lecturer in Sociology focusing on the study of gender and sexuality. His area of research focuses on various marginalised groups and identities, and he has published widely in the areas of masculinities, group sex, and consensual non-monogamy.
In this session, Dr Scoats will deliver an interactive session on quality in higher education:
Title: Women and Board Game Culture by Dr Ryan Scoats
Drawing from 43 semi-structured interviews with women who play board games/view it as a hobby/view themselves as a board gamer, this paper explores the impact of board game culture on women. Similar to video games culture, but as yet unexplored within board games, this research investigates the maleness of these spaces and how perceptions of ‘who games are for’ and ‘who belongs’ create barriers to women’s involvement in board game culture. Simultaneously, women’s visibility in both local settings and wider board game culture help to challenge to maleness of board game spaces and encourage women’s participation. The analysis focuses on three key themes: 1) the perception of board games as a predominantly male space (both culturally and numerically); 2) the consequent board game gender gap that is brought about by barriers to women’s play; 3) the positive impact of women's visibility on reshaping the dynamics of these spaces. This research emphasizes the need for further exploration and understanding of the socio-cultural aspects within board game culture. As interest in board gaming continues to grow, continued investigation is vital for understanding the intricacies of inclusivity, representation, and the development of subcultural norms within this domain.
If you have any questions, contact Dr Mitchell Longan, the Research Seminar Series leader, at mitchell.longan@bcu.ac.uk.