Exploring Women's Role in Creative Industries Through Collaborative Action Research Using Tabletop Role-Playing Games

This paper examines the use of tabletop role-playing games (TRPGs) as a collaborative action research (CAR) tool to investigate the role of women in the creative industries of the North East region in the UK. TRPGs offer an interactive and structured platform for participants to engage in scenario-based simulations, problem-solving activities, and decision-making exercises. Through immersive experiences, TRPGs enable participants to gain insights into the challenges, constraints, and dynamics of the creative industry. The study presents the application of TRPGs in a workshop called “Agents of Equality and Empowerment”, involving professionals, freelancers, students, academics, and NGO workers from the creative sectors. By assuming the roles of women creatives in TRPG scenarios, participants investigated issues like brain drain, motherhood, childcare, networking, connections, pay gap, and lack of role models. The workshop aimed to identify necessary changes, understand priorities, and explore the subjective experiences of women creatives in the North East. Findings derived from surveys, qualitative analysis of in-game interactions, observations, and reflections shed light on practical aspects and emotional dimensions of women's involvement in the creative industries. This understanding facilitates a deeper exploration of barriers, biases, societal expectations, and cultural influences that shape their professional journeys.