Mainstreaming video games: A cultural response

Syed Arman Hossain, Abdullah Al Fahad — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This paper examines the integration of video games into Dhaka's cultural landscape in Bangladesh, considering the impact of sociocultural and economic factors. Through ethnographic research and the application of theoretical frameworks such as the theory of attainment, this study investigates the factors contributing to the popularity of video games in Dhaka. The research explores how vocational expectations in education and a focus on specific career outcomes shape the cultural narrative surrounding video games. Video games serve as sources of entertainment and social validation, filling the void created by limited recreational spaces and changing social norms. The commercial aspect of video games also facilitates peer bonding and social interaction, aligning with the prevailing neoliberal ethos in Dhaka's society. The theory of attainment helps explain the motivations underlying the widespread adoption of video games, linking it to the pursuit of predefined objectives within the neoliberal paradigm. As Dhaka undergoes neoliberal transformations, video games have become central to its cultural landscape, functioning as coping mechanisms and sources of identity and connectivity in the face of limited leisure spaces and changing social configurations. This article seeks to understand the popularity of video games in Dhaka by exploring the interplay of culture, technology, and socioeconomic factors. It presents video games as both reactions to and reflections of the city's evolving environment, shedding light on the dynamics shaping leisure practices in urban Bangladesh. This research can contribute to further investigations and studies on online gaming within the sociocultural context of Bangladesh.

Employee diversity and firm value of listed Nigerian consumer goods manufacturing companies

Joseph Seun Kolawole, Adeyemi Wasiu Alabi — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The persistent decline in the value of quoted consumer goods manufacturing companies in Nigeria from 2012 to 2021 served as the impetus for this study, which sought to explore the influence of employee diversity on the value of listed consumer goods manufacturing firms in the country. Specifically, the study investigated the impact of employee gender diversity, physical disability diversity, and race and cultural diversity on firm value. Employing ex-post facto methodology, the study centred on twenty-two consumer goods manufacturing firms listed on the Nigeria Exchange (NGX) as of December 31, 2021, representing both the population and sample. Data spanning from 2012 to 2021 were collected from the published reports of these firms and subjected to analysis, using descriptive statistics and panel regression. The findings revealed that employee gender diversity and physical disability diversity exerted significant positive effects on firm value, while the influence of employee race and cultural diversity was found to be insignificantly positive. As a result, the study concluded that the value of consumer goods manufacturing firms in Nigeria is influenced by employee diversity. To capitalize on these findings, the study recommended that such firms should embrace workforce diversity strategies and ensure transparent disclosure of employee information in their financial statements.

International Journal of Emerging Trends in Social Sciences

Mainstreaming video games: A cultural response

Employee diversity and firm value of listed Nigerian consumer goods manufacturing companies