Thread: Sexism in Video Games

Women want the same thing men want in games. Which is usually fun game play and good story. One or the other, ideally both. If you make a game with a good story, and the game play is really fun, then everyone is going to play it.

There is obviously some subset of games that are designed just to be offensive and silly(like GTA), but I don't think those are worth discussing much since everyone knows they are sexist and offensive. It is obvious, and apparently no one here even plays them because the idea doesn't seem appealing to them. Those sort of games are not really the norm, but we all know they are out there. I don't think anyone is going to deny that games that are trying to be offensive on purpose are offensive.

I think the reason there isn't as many female game creators, is because there isn't as many female programmers. The reason for that is because people have the attitude that women are not as good at technical stuff. That isn't true at all, but it is kind of a self fulfilling prophecy, where people tell women they are not as good at it and they kind of believe it so they don't try, then of course there is less of them and that seems to back up that belief that they are not as good. That is one of the things we need to try changing. That isn't so much an issue with games but with schools and society being ridged and slow to change with the times. There is definitely sexism in areas like that, and it probably contributes to some sexism in games that just reflection on everyday sexism in our general society.

Like I said originally though, there are a ton of games and different genres of games and stuff. I would say in most areas games are pretty progressive though and it is obvious that most games try to be open to a wider audience of men and women.

On the side issue of Anita Sarkeesian, a lot of people are mad at her because she stole a bunch of videos from gamers on youtube and stuff and then used those videos to illegally make money by passing it off as her own work. Basically she is a criminal who plagiarizes other people work for profit. In other words, she is a scumbag. Which is why no one likes her.

Originally Posted by Alric

people have the attitude that women are not as good at technical stuff. That isn't true at all, but it is kind of a self fulfilling prophecy, where people tell women they are not as good at it and they kind of believe it so they don't try, then of course there is less of them and that seems to back up that belief that they are not as good. That is one of the things we need to try changing. That isn't so much an issue with games but with schools and society being ridged and slow to change with the times. There is definitely sexism in areas like that, and it probably contributes to some sexism in games that just reflection on everyday sexism in our general society.

I'm sorry but this is a feminist fallacy. Women have a lot more white matter in their brains, men have a lot more grey matter. Their brains are different. Women are not as good at hard science, hard math or engineering as men, and that's just a fact. Due to the feminist push in colleges there have been many that tried all kinds of ways to get women into those classes, and quite a few women did enter them, but not many have been good enough to get degrees in those fields. And this is with a huge push to get them there! It does no good to blame it on society or sexism. It's just a biological fact, like the fact that males have more upper body strength.

Originally Posted by Darkmatters

Women have a lot more white matter in their brains, men have a lot more grey matter.

Other way around.

Women are not as good at hard science, hard math or engineering as men, and that's just a fact. Due to the feminist push in colleges there have been many that tried all kinds of ways to get women into those classes, and quite a few women did enter them, but not many have been good enough to get degrees in those fields. And this is with a huge push to get them there! It does no good to blame it on society or sexism. It's just a biological fact, like the fact that males have more upper body strength.

The fact that some women who enter STEM programs do not complete their degrees could also be due to other, more complex reasons (familial obligations comes to mind). If you have something to show that it is primarily related to an inability to succeed in STEM programs, I'd like to see it. You say in this post (and the ones after it) that it's just a fact. Where did you get this fact from?

Anecdote: I'm at a university which seems to have a woman majority (or close to it) and I can tell you that it hasn't been uncommon for me to be one of just a few males in a biology class. I can't speak for physics classes, but chemistry classes seemed to be split evenly.