“Frat Boy” Culture: Will the Activision Lawsuit Reform the Gaming Industry?

Abstract

On July 28, 2021, more than 1,500 employees of gaming giant Activision, parent company of popular game developer Blizzard, walked out from their jobs over claims of sexual harassment and discrimination. The walkout came on the heels of a lawsuit filed by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, which accused the company of cultivating a toxic workplace culture that enabled rampant sexual harassment and gender discrimination. While gaming is known to be rife with harassment and discriminatory behavior toward women and marginalized groups, rarely have the industry’s executives and leaders been held accountable. This lawsuit may represent the first significant step in bringing about change in the industry and overall culture. Students are asked to discuss the lawsuit and its potential fallout.

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