Dr. Maria Ruotsalainen

Hi, I am Maria! I am a cultural studies scholar, located in University of Jyväskylä, where I also defended my PhD in 2022. In my PhD, I examined how the ongoing sportification of competitive gaming influences its gendered nature.

In my research, I am interested in examining how affect, power, materiality and intersubjectivity come together in a range of phenomenon. My current research topics range from cultures of competitive gaming to neurodiversity and gaming and all the way to rescue dogs. Through my research, I wish to understand better the complicated ways human and non-human animals connect and disconnect via material, affective and discursive means.