Friday, February 17, 2012

Meow

"Leigh Alexander has become a central figure in the debate, whether she likes it or not."

-- Smashing stereotypes around women and gaming, CBC News

4 comments:

Diogo Ribeiro said...

I think we need more diversity in all fields of the videogame industry, but I also think the argument that such a change - a beneficial change, no less - depends on the inclusion of more women is narrow minded. In fact, it's a stereotype: the idea that someone different, by virtue of being different, is beneficial to a group.

Which is to say, diversity is only significant if there's actual diversity. It would be wrong to assume that a videogame studio comprised of both men and women is inherently more diverse than a male-only studio; the same would apply to game journalism, as well. Gender inequality is a problem, but gender doesn't automatically translate into a different perspective, or the necessary perspective to change things. To assume otherwise is as insulting as a telemarketing company's advertisement where you have a black man, an asian woman, and a latin american right next to caucasians. In fact, several men in the industry are against mysogyny and actively denounce it - they don't have to be women to do so, nor to instinctively realize why mistreatment against women is wrong. I don't have to be a woman in order to feel sickened by the current climate of XBox Live chatter among preteen idiots, and to criticize it whenever I have the chance either.

Wasn't there some fair amount of astonishment at the fact that the lead artist for Skullgirls, a fighting game with considerable cleavage and panty shots, is a woman? Of course, one woman in the industry working in such a game, or a game with that kind of content, isn't a problem. But the fact still remains that it is a woman playing up to the wants of a largely male demographic. She's by no means an example of diversity, quite the opposite. What the industry needs is people that can make a difference - whether they are themselves different or not should be a secondary concern.

NegoFulô said...

The article reminded me of this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0262531682/sr=8-6/qid=1150807520/ref=pd_bbs_6/002-6841949-9788838?_encoding=UTF8
But wow, death threats huh...

Piston Baroque said...

I think that the industry is changing for the better. There are plenty of female characters who don't wait around to be rescued, women who serve other functions than romantic interests or eye candy.

With that said, there are still plenty of problems with the role female characters play today. Even powerful women are easy to objectify, especially if they have no other distinguishing characteristics.

"Oh, look! It's a pair of boobs with a woman attached!"

The industry is going in the right direction, and I hope that it continues to progress from here. I can't wait to see what happens.

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