Title

Fantasy Escapism: Using Role-Playing Games to Explore Mental Health and Gender Identity

Author

Aidan Cipolla, Ursinus CollegeFollow

Submission Date

8-18-2023

Document Type

Paper

Department

English

Faculty Mentor

Meredith Goldsmith

Comments

Presented during the 25th Annual Summer Fellows Symposium, July 21, 2023 at Ursinus College.

A PowerPoint poster is included as a supplemental file.

Project Description

This project analyzes how escapism through the use of role-playing games can be used as a coping mechanism for those struggling with a variety of topics, including gender dysphoria and mental health issues. The project takes an ethnographic approach to data gathering, consisting of interviews with a small group of Dungeons and Dragons / video game players, and personal anecdotes regarding the author’s experience with escapism.

Recommended Citation

Cipolla, Aidan, "Fantasy Escapism: Using Role-Playing Games to Explore Mental Health and Gender Identity" (2023). English Summer Fellows. 27.
https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/english_sum/27