Date of Award
Summer 8-22-2026
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology
Organizational Unit
Morgridge College of Education, Counseling Psychology
First Advisor
Keiko M. McCullough
Second Advisor
Patton O. Garriot
Third Advisor
Runchao Liu
Fourth Advisor
Marc J. Guerrero
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
All Rights Reserved.
Keywords
Asian American men, Gendered racism, Hate speech, Online competitive gaming, Toxicity
Abstract
In the U.S., Asian Americans men make up a large portion of active players in online competitive video games. In these settings, harassment, racism, and hate speech are prevalent and often normalized. The purpose of this study was to explore Asian American men’s experiences of gendered racism in online competitive gaming spaces. Using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis approach (Smith, Flowers, & Larkin, 2022) and applying the Intersectionality Framework (Crenshaw, 1989; Collins, 2000), six Asian American men were interviewed about their experiences of gendered racism while playing online competitive games. Two Group Experiential Themes emerged from their accounts: 1) Gendered racism in online gaming is unrestrained, and 2) Bicultural coping strategies in response to gendered racism in gaming. The first GET included two subthemes: 1a) Online anonymity emboldens gendered racism as catharsis, and 1b) Asian American men are identified and then denigrated by other men. The second GET included four subthemes: 2a) The instinct to retaliate against gendered racism, 2b) Psychological coping through detachment, 2c) Behavioral coping by disengaging, and 2d) Solidarity through communities and Asian American pride. Clinical implications include exploring Asian American men clients’ self-expression in online spaces, developing coping mechanisms to address the impacts of gendered racism, and strengthening community social support and pride in one’s identity.
Copyright Date
8-2026
Publication Statement
Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
Rights Holder
Calvin Weiting Lee
Provenance
Received from ProQuest
File Format
application/pdf
Language
English (eng)
Extent
87 pgs
File Size
713 KB
Recommended Citation
Lee, Calvin Weiting, "Asian American Men's Experiences of Gendered Racism in Online Competitive Gaming" (2026). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2785.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/2785
Included in
Counseling Psychology Commons, Multicultural Psychology Commons, Race and Ethnicity Commons, Social Psychology Commons, Sports Studies Commons