She designs therefore she is? Evolving understandings of video game design

Girls and women play video games in equal number to boys, yet they continue to be under-representedin the video game industry. The goal of this chapter is to examine initiatives that encourage genderequality in video game design. This chapter argues that the process of becoming a video game designermay have the potential to shift girls' notions of identity. Drawing on research on girls and video gamedesign, as well as analyses of informal programs that teach girls video game design, this chapter emphasizesthe intersection of design and identity. This chapter offers directions and recommendations forfuture research, including the need for expanded understandings of the cultural and democratic benefitsof video game design for girls.