معرفی
Finja Walsdorff is a Research Associate at the Institute for Media and Cultural Studies at Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf and the University of Siegen. She holds a Master of Arts in Media Culture from the University of Siegen (2016-2019) and is currently completing her doctoral dissertation in Gender Media Studies. Her academic journey includes a Bachelor of Arts in Media Science from the University of Siegen (2012-2016) and an academic year abroad at Keio University Tokyo (2014-2015).
- Master of Arts Medienkultur, University of Siegen (2016-2019)
- Bachelor of Arts Medienwissenschaft, University of Siegen (2012-2016)
- Academic year at Keio University Tokyo (2014-2015)
Walsdorff's research examines gender representation in digital games, E-Sports, gaming communities, fan cultures, and the relationship between games and mental health. Her work particularly investigates how players use mods to challenge gender norms, explores care practices in 'tend-and-befriend' games, and analyzes the economics of modding communities. She approaches games through intersectional and gender-theoretical perspectives, focusing on wellbeing, empowerment, and representation politics in gaming culture.
Her recent publications demonstrate a cohesive research trajectory examining gender and diversity in gaming culture, with particular emphasis on modding as a tool for social change and empowerment. Walsdorff analyzes how women create mods to challenge in-game portrayals of sexuality, investigates self-care mechanics in games like Animal Crossing during the pandemic, and explores the precarious labor conditions within modding communities. Her editorial work further establishes her as a key figure in shaping contemporary game studies discourse.
- Wolfgang-Popp-Preis für Geschlechterforschung (2020)
- Certificate program 'Professional Teaching Competence for Higher Education' (2021-2022)
- FraMeS - Women-specific Mentoring at University of Siegen
- Doctoral scholarship from House of Young Talents (2019-2021)
- Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) scholarship (2014-2015)
- Siegen Student Mobility Program (SiSMo) scholarship (2014)
Walsdorff actively contributes to academic governance as Mittelbauvertreterin (representative for early-career researchers) in Media Studies at the University of Siegen since 2022 and as Speaker of the Games Working Group of the Society for Media Science since 2020. She co-organizes the Promotionskolloquium der AG Games and the Medienwissenschaftliches Kolloquium. Her public engagement includes serving on the jury for the German Computer Game Award (2024-2025), membership in the Equal eSports Council since 2023, and contributions to media outlets discussing gender representation in games.
Her work bridges academic research with public discourse through regular media appearances in Junge*Junge magazine, Medienconcret, bpb, Westfalenpost, OK COOL podcast, and WDR 5 radio. These contributions focus on gender constructions in digital games, sexism in gaming culture, and mental health aspects of gaming, demonstrating her commitment to making academic research accessible to broader audiences.
