Women in video games face objectifcation and secondary roles as society  determines what it wants to see

Video games have unique value as a medium. It demands interaction through your own input, ultimately pulling in gamers of all types to become invested in the characters and the world interpreted by developers. But for a medium designed for a wide audience, it’s odd the way artists and writers represent the women that also play their games.

Since the creation of games, not many female characters are given lead roles in games. In most games, women are secondary characters. Sometimes they serve only as a plot device when, for example, women are kidnapped or killed just for a male lead to come a knocking.

Other times they’re dressed for the attention of young male audiences titles are intended for with very revealing clothing, big lips, enlarged breasts, long legs and a callipygia.

The examples are everywhere. Take the “damsel in distress” trope as mentioned before. For tactless reasons, women are made useless, killed in revenge stories or as an object to be obtained. Some cases, plots like these are thrown in for the sake of the lead character. Unless used thoughtfully, the trope can be troublesome.

An interesting video series on YouTube called “Damsel in Distress” goes in-depth on the subject. Though I don’t agree with all her opinions, it’s a great source of insight.

There’s also the problem of the oversexualization of women.

When you think of females in games, you might think of Lara Croft in the classic “Tomb Raider.” She’s intelligent, resourceful, strong and athletic. But even as a pioneer in her realm, she is sexualized for her audience. As a character, Lara Croft is compelling, an archeologist that uncovers mysterious powerful artifacts that others harness for evil, time and time again she saves the world. But her characteristics forgotten by most when she’s laying naked in gaming magazines.

As a man, my stance is that women don’t need defending on these matters, they’re able to speak for themselves. But I feel it’s important to keep the discussion going. While it’s fine consume any kind of content you want, it helps to understand games are showing you and if you really accept the cheap ways they grab your attention. Instead, think of what is more meaningful to you like story, character or concept; something that adds with reason. Not a girl in a bikini because why not, it’s a video game. It’s ultimately the games you purchase that determine what publishers use to sale you more of the same thing.

From the perspective of developers, they should never change what they want to do or limit themselves creatively. Yet, influence and interpretation doesn’t always reflect what their creative project intended. So it ends up their job to be mindful, as it should be. Not to say every game needs women to be leaders and strong but to think of all options.

Women in gaming still face a problem, but like all industries, consumers shape what’s on the market. While it’s not our fault that material like what’s represented for women is what we always see, we just have to be mindful of what we’re attracted to.