Feminist Pinball: How Women Are Changing Competitive Play and the Industry
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| Title: | Feminist Pinball: How Women Are Changing Competitive Play and the Industry |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Ryan Banfi |
| Source: | American Journal of Play. 2026 18(1):97-130. |
| Availability: | The Strong. One Manhattan Square, Rochester, NY 14607. Tel: 585-263-2700; e-mail: info@thestrong.org; Web site: https://www.museumofplay.org/journalofplay/ |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 34 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Play, Feminism, Females, Competition, Games, Gender Issues, Gender Bias |
| ISSN: | 1938-0399 1938-0402 |
| Abstract: | The author investigates why some women pursue women-only pinball tournaments and how the pinball industry represents them. He argues that women are absent from the top rankings not because of their biological differences from men but rather because of problematic social environments and the pinball industry's approach to representing women in games. Thus, pinball's culture involves gender-related issues similar to those in the broader game industry. Banfi discusses pinball's popularity in general and the growth of women-only leagues in reaction to harassment by male players, characterized, for instance, by the 2014 Gamergate scandal. He draws attention to women pinball players and how they are changing the culture surrounding tournaments, which often intersect with competitive gaming. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1504313 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | The author investigates why some women pursue women-only pinball tournaments and how the pinball industry represents them. He argues that women are absent from the top rankings not because of their biological differences from men but rather because of problematic social environments and the pinball industry's approach to representing women in games. Thus, pinball's culture involves gender-related issues similar to those in the broader game industry. Banfi discusses pinball's popularity in general and the growth of women-only leagues in reaction to harassment by male players, characterized, for instance, by the 2014 Gamergate scandal. He draws attention to women pinball players and how they are changing the culture surrounding tournaments, which often intersect with competitive gaming. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 1938-0399 1938-0402 |
