Portrayal of women in video games

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Women have been portrayed in in video games since the medium's beginning, with their portrayals often the subject of controversy. Sociologists with an interest in gender roles and stereotyping have outlined the role of women as both supporting characters and as potential leaders struggling to be accepted as equals.^{[citation needed]} Another point of study has been the depiction of women in video games, in which, as in other forms of popular culture, body types are unrealistically portrayed.

1 Roles
2 Negative portrayals
3 Positive portrayals
4 References

[edit] Roles

There has been an increasing trend for women to be used as protagonists in modern games.^[1]

[edit] Negative portrayals

[edit] Objectification and sexualization

Since her introduction in 1996, the character of Lara Croft from the Tomb Raider series in particular has been criticised for her unrealistic breast size; "Lara Croft continues to personify an ongoing culture clash over gender, sexuality, empowerment, and objectification."^[2] However, the game's parent company, Core Design of England, maintains that she was not designed with marketing in mind, and have claimed to be rather surprised at her pinup-style adoration.^[3] In fact, it has been claimed that this fandom objectification is harmful to the character.^[4]^[5]

Similarly, Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball has been criticized as being more about eye candy and women in bikinis than it is about the sport of volleyball, having been created merely for the purpose of displaying women's breasts.^[6]

God of War and its sequel God of War II also depict women being used for sexual relations to increase the character's health and "praise"; however, this has not generated significant controversy, as the games have been received extremely well overall.

[edit] Rape

Custer's Revenge, a pornographic game, is noted for containing elements of rape; the goal of the game is to have your character, Custer, reach a bound female Native American, named Revenge, so that he may have sex with her; while the makers have claimed that this is consensual bondage, others, such as the National Organization for Women have claimed that this is indeed rape as well as racism.^[7]

[edit] Violence

Violence in video games is a hotly debated topic, especially with regards to the Grand Theft Auto franchise; however, some sources have specifically condemned the series and similar games for promoting violence against women.^[8] However, this is hardly the first game to show violence towards women; Duke Nukem 3D is notable for encouraging the player to attack women and posters of women during the course of the game.^[9]

Similar concerns have been voiced about violent females, such as Lara Croft, whose depiction has grown bloodier and bloodier over the years.^[10]

[edit] Reactions

Ubisoft has formed a group of female gamers; the intent is to create "role models for a whole legion of girls out there who may have been too intimidated to play games online - or even play at all," according to Nate Mordo, Ubisoft's online community manager.^[2] In addition, to attract female gamers to a generally male-dominated market, many game companies are becoming more family-friendly.^[11]

In Tomb Raider: Legend, Lara Croft underwent a redesign, ostensibly to make her less sexualized.^[12]

[edit] Positive portrayals

Samus Aran is often held up as a positive example of women protagonists in video games, as the player was unaware that the protagonist was even female until the end of Metroid for the NES; thusly, her female characteristics were not emphasized over her viability as a character.^[13]