Sexism in video games, WTF is this shit. -

[homerbeoulve]

Looks like Anita Sarkeesian is stirring up an issue of her so called well researched topic of sexism in video games. She's a great troll I've got to admit, but she cannot back it up. She's all lies, after lies, heck even her credentials are also lies.

 

[Caddchef]

She's a conwoman, pure and simple.

 

[The Hunter]

Okay, just bothered looking it up. Damsel in distress? Really? That's her concern? Not the fact that the Japanese have made numerous video games centered around raping women? Or the fact that most female video game characters are seen by the fans as sex objects no matter how innocent they look? No, it's none of that, apparently portraying a woman as a damsel in distress is a big deal because it's totally everywhere in video games. I'm just going to pretend games like Grand Theft Auto 4 don't exist where your chubby cousin is the damsel in distress, and I'm also going to ignore the Saint's Row series where you can play as a woman. Yep, all video games portray women as damsels in distress. Especially Tomb Raider.

 

[mendoza]

I know right. Princess Peach even got her own game where she is the heroine for a change instead of the damsel in distress.

 

[MysticMisty]

Samus was a heroine back in the 8-bit area and didn't need a man to help her blow aliens to pieces.

 

[KatsuKitty]

To be fair, the things I hear flying out of 12 year old's mouths on multiplayer games would make Hitler cringe. But that has less to do with video games and more to do with the sorry state of permissive parenting today.

 

[pickleniggo]

The fact that this woman receives so much hate speaks volumes, guys. Way to prove her point.

I know right. Princess Peach even got her own game where she is the heroine for a change instead of the damsel in distress.

Princess Peach uses emotions to fight because obviously she's incapable of succeeding any other way. Because girls are such emotional wrecks all the time - no exceptions - y'all.

 

[Niachu]

Never heard of her, but sounds interesting. I'll look into this (at some point)

 

[The Hunter]

The fact that this woman receives so much hate speaks volumes, guys. Way to prove her point.

No, I'm not denying that sexism is rampant in the video game industry. I'm just saying what she's saying about this whole damsel in distress thing isn't the entire issue. An even bigger concern than the idea of "saving the princess" in Mario is the fact that there is a series of games about a woman who does nothing but cook, garden, and babysitting, and a spin off game with a male character who is a scientist.

 

[Niachu]

Wait, it's in video form? Goddamnit, I can't even form a proper opinion.

 

[pickleniggo]

The fact that this woman receives so much hate speaks volumes, guys. Way to prove her point.

No, I'm not denying that sexism is rampant in the video game industry. I'm just saying what she's saying about this whole damsel in distress thing isn't the entire issue. An even bigger concern than the idea of "saving the princess" in Mario is the fact that there is a series of games about a woman who does nothing but cook, garden, and babysitting, and a spin off game with a male character who is a scientist.

This is only one video of a series though. I have enough faith in this project that she'll get to many different points about women's roles in video games - not just DiD.
It's just really disappointing that people in general are so dismissive of this project....because a woman expressing ideas of feminism is perceived as being contentious and nagging. People just hear the word "feminism" and it causes a knee-jerk reaction, a roll of the eyes, and the attempting to silence any kind of reason.

 

[The Hunter]

The fact that this woman receives so much hate speaks volumes, guys. Way to prove her point.

No, I'm not denying that sexism is rampant in the video game industry. I'm just saying what she's saying about this whole damsel in distress thing isn't the entire issue. An even bigger concern than the idea of "saving the princess" in Mario is the fact that there is a series of games about a woman who does nothing but cook, garden, and babysitting, and a spin off game with a male character who is a scientist.

This is only one video of a series though. I have enough faith in this project that she'll get to many different points about women's roles in video games - not just DiD.
It's just really disappointing that people in general are so dismissive of this project....because a woman expressing ideas of feminism is perceived as being contentious and nagging. People just hear the word "feminism" and it causes a knee-jerk reaction, a roll of the eyes, and the attempting to silence any kind of reason.

Honestly, I kind of saw the title of this thread, sighed, and thought to myself, "hoh boy, let's get ready for some shit," but yeah, this happened. Although I wouldn't be surprised if the majority of male gamers out there would lose their shit if they were told that women aren't meant to be Kimmi love dolls and none of them would lay someone who thinks like that. Experience has taught me that some gamers, especially gamers, I've no idea why they're so susceptible to this, are just the worst kinds of people when it comes to gender equality and basic human decency.

Although I'm gonna be a little disappointed if she just keeps going on about the damsel in distress thing. There are much, much bigger problems with gender equality in the world of video games.

 

[pickleniggo]

Although I'm gonna be a little disappointed if she just keeps going on about the damsel in distress thing. There are much, much bigger problems with gender equality in the world of video games.

Oh no doubt. But after all of the controversy surrounding her kickstarter for this and all the nasty stuff that happened to Anita because of it, all eyes are on her and I'm sure she'll cover many angles.

 

[Niachu]

Especially Tomb Raider.

I don't think Laura got popular because she was a strong, independent female.

 

[The Hunter]

Especially Tomb Raider.

I don't think Laura got popular because she was a strong, independent female.

Spoiler

jiggle physics

But her popularity's not the point, and I already said the concern is that she's seen as nothing more than fap material. She's just not a damsel in distress. No, she's actually the opposite of one. Although I think the strongest point for the argument is that the whole damsel in distress thing is most common in children's video games. Then again, that's like saying that we should stop reading fairy tales to kids because the hero always saves the princess or climbs up her hair or finds her slipper or some crap like that. Again, wasn't really aware that this was an ongoing series and I thought she'd just be covering the whole damsel in distress thing. Focusing on that one problem and none of the thousands of other problems with gender equality in video games just sounds like it'd get you nowhere.

 

[Niachu]

Also, while I don't agree with him on a lot of things, a friend on facebook posted this awhile ago:

the picture:

my response:

 

[The Hunter]

Actually, I want to stick on the subject of damsels in distress just to say that Roman Bellic is the best one.

[youtube]9QV7cjkrBhI[/youtube]

Actually, I think he's just the best video game character in existence.

 

[mendoza]

Well, the thing you have to understand about the video game industry is they aren't in business to earn brownie points with women's groups. They are in business to make money.

If the only way they can sell games with female characters in them is to make them (a) damsels in distress, (b) girly, or (c) strong but fappable, then that is what they will do. Supply and demand.

If people want a video game with a strong, badass yet unattractive female lead, then what is probably going to have to happen is an independent developer is going to have to come up with a compelling game with such a character and sell the shit out of it, thus proving market viability.

 

[Niachu]

Well, the thing you have to understand about the video game industry is they aren't in business to earn brownie points with women's groups. They are in business to make money.

I think that's clear, yeah?

I don't hate the pandering because I think it sets feminism back 30 years or something. I hate it because it's annoying, annoying, annoying. I don't think it would be the death of gaming if they let their women dress plausibly every now and then.

 

[mendoza]

I just think that television, movies and music reach a larger audience and would be an easier sell to be less sexist. Rap music lyrics are worse than video games ever will be.

There are two issues beyond the typical supply and demand that will make it a hard sell in vidya however. (1) Demographics. Yes I know there are a lot of awesome female gamers, but by and large the target market is still young male. And they do trend toward the loveshy demographic. They can try to broaden the appeal, and that does work for casual gaming. But your hardcore gamers tend to be hardcore gamers because they don't have a lot else going on, and that isn't going to change.

(2) Countries of origin. Yes, Microsoft is American and can be pressured to a degree with by American women's groups, but Sony and Nintendo are both Japanese. Even if Americans boycotted their products, and somehow talked the hardcore gamers into going along with it, they still have the Japanese markets. No offense to the Japanese, but they buy video games with digital girlfriends (like neopets taken to a whole new level) and actually take that shit seriously. I don't think sexism in vidya is something they are too concerned with.

Of course it wouldn't be the death of gaming, but we all know sex sells and they are selling to a sex-starved audience.
Case in point.