Women in Video Games
I've been playing video games since I was about four-years-old. I have an older sister who had the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (or as most, including myself, affectionately call it, the SNES). I remember spending hours playing through Yoshi's Island, Kirby's Dreamland 3, Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (which still, to this day, has the best VGM). I was horrible at these games, but I loved them nonetheless. When I was a bit older, I started playing Super Mario Kart with my sister. I always picked Yoshi.
In 2001, we got our first computer and received one of the Tomb Raider games as a gift. Despite having seen Princess Peach as a playable character in Mario Kart, I remember being astonished by the fact that there was this bad-ass (probably not the word I would have used then) woman fighting her way through levels. I would never forget her name because of that- the incredible Lara Croft. She made me feel like I could be powerful, too. Yet, despite this, I was more accustomed to the protagonists being male, and I never saw anything wrong with that. I mean, I still don't, considering one of my favorite video game series, Uncharted, has a male protagonist who I absolutely adore. But I'm twenty-three-years-old now, it's almost ridiculous how there's still not as much female representation in video games. It still seems to be such a male-dominated world. Even when there is a female lead, she seems provocative or needs the assistance of the much stronger male character.
In Sex, Lies, and Video Games: The Portrayal of Male and Female Characters on Video Game Covers, Melinda Burgess makes an argument that, "females would be more likely to share their primary status with a primary male. Even with a primary female character, the presence of a primary male implied that the female was only allowed to be an important part of the game because the male was there with her. The male could serve as protector, guide, or actually perform most of the action while the female serves as a sidekick" (425).
Honestly, I often find that the female sidekicks are more dimensional than the bland protagonists we are forced to play as. As the game progresses, I feel it is our partner that develops further, which is both great and upsetting. It's great, because that means the women have more layers to them, but upsetting that these women aren't the ones we get to truly share the play-through experience with first-hand.
Another issue I must address when it comes to female characters is how they are depicted. If they aren't the sidekick, they are certainly the hot main character men can ogle.
In Sex, Lies, and Video Games: The Portrayal of Male and Female Characters on Video Game Covers, Melinda Burgess makes an argument that, "females would be more likely to share their primary status with a primary male. Even with a primary female character, the presence of a primary male implied that the female was only allowed to be an important part of the game because the male was there with her. The male could serve as protector, guide, or actually perform most of the action while the female serves as a sidekick" (425).
Honestly, I often find that the female sidekicks are more dimensional than the bland protagonists we are forced to play as. As the game progresses, I feel it is our partner that develops further, which is both great and upsetting. It's great, because that means the women have more layers to them, but upsetting that these women aren't the ones we get to truly share the play-through experience with first-hand.
Another issue I must address when it comes to female characters is how they are depicted. If they aren't the sidekick, they are certainly the hot main character men can ogle.
Lara Croft was a bad-ass, but let's face it, she was barely dressed and was given large breasts, because that would help it sell, right? It's almost as if the game developers were nervous that if she didn't have sex appeal, nobody would have wanted to play an Indiana Jones style game with a female archaeologist. And that's such a shame. I'm relieved that the reboot of the Tomb Raider series had a Croft who wasn't as revealing (and could be very covered up if you decided to change her outfit). She was still the same awesome warrior who first captivated me as a child, and I'm glad she's become an inspiration for young women today.
Most male characters are attractive and pleasing to look at, but their looks aren't their most prominent feature. No, the games always focus most on their skills and knowledge, and dress them in less than attractive clothing because their looks aren't what we are supposed to be concentrating on, right?
Overall, I think video game developers have gotten better with adding women to their works and treating them with respect (the new Lara Croft is proof of that). The next improvement that must been made, however, is now giving recognition to the hard-working voice actresses who do their best to make their female characters stand out from the rest. These voice actresses get to know their character and poor their passion into them. These women deserve to be known for helping the gaming industry become just a little more equal.
My hope is to bring light to these women and help others fall in love with them and their characters as much as I have.
Most male characters are attractive and pleasing to look at, but their looks aren't their most prominent feature. No, the games always focus most on their skills and knowledge, and dress them in less than attractive clothing because their looks aren't what we are supposed to be concentrating on, right?
Overall, I think video game developers have gotten better with adding women to their works and treating them with respect (the new Lara Croft is proof of that). The next improvement that must been made, however, is now giving recognition to the hard-working voice actresses who do their best to make their female characters stand out from the rest. These voice actresses get to know their character and poor their passion into them. These women deserve to be known for helping the gaming industry become just a little more equal.
My hope is to bring light to these women and help others fall in love with them and their characters as much as I have.
