Journal Entry 10

One of the discussions that we have had in class was derived around the idea of gender representation and sexuality in video games.  We looked at many studies from the likes of Dietz (1998), Beasly and Standly (2002), and Haninger and Thomason (2004). These researchers coded games for the number of different features related to video game characters and how these features portrayed sex and gender.

Dietz (1998) found that 41% of games at that time were devoid of female characters all together.  The 21% that did feature female characters portrayed them as visions of beauty or damsels in distress.  The other 28% of games that featured female characters portrayed the women as sex objects, showing abnormal body image such as enlarged breasts and other curvy assets.

In 2002, Beasly and Stanly performed a similar research study, and their findings they found similar patterns.  They discovered that less than 14% of game characters were female, and 41% of those female characters were portrayed as voluptuous.  Of the 41% of voluptuous women, 31% were found in video games with an ESRB rating of E for everyone.  It is no wonder females are viewed as sex items.  Young children are most likely to be playing games that are rated E for everyone, so they are exposed to many visions of abnormal looking women that they assume to be true later on.

Haninger and Thompson’s study (2004) looked at T rated games for players thirteen and up.  Their findings showed that 77% of T rated games contain sex and profanity and are significantly more likely to depict women in a more sexual light. 

When we look at these studies, we can summarize by saying that women are less likely to appear in games as men are and when they do appear, they are depicted as helpless, or needing of saving.  They are also portrayed as sex objects with unrealistic bodies and show a lot of exposed skin and cleavage. 

Of course, these studies were done on outdated consoles and I believe that this depiction of women has changed over time with some of the main characters in recent games.  For this post, I would like to look at the other side of the spectrum and talk about some female characters that kick ass and are depicted in a different light. 

Nariko  (Heavenly Sword)

Heavenly Sword is a Play Station 3 exclusive that was released as a launch title for the console in 2007.  This game’s mane character is Nariko, a sword wielding badass chick who is tasked with protecting the “Heavenly Sword”, a god’s blade of immense power that drains its wielder of their life force.  If this sword gets into the wrong hands, the holder will have the power to take over the world.  Nariko does fit the depiction of the studies as a voluptuous sex symbol but she does hold her own in combat.  She does not fit the mold of the “damsel in distress” but instead is looked at as a powerful figure in the game.   

The New Laura Croft (Tomb Raider)

Everybody remembers the old Laura Croft from the Play Station 1 and 2 days. And is a sex symbol synonymous with sexual portrayal of women in video games.  Well, just like everything else today, Tomb Raider is getting rebooted and there is a new Laura Croft being portrayed.  No she isn’t a big breasted bomb shell with snarky comments and booty shorts, but instead she is a woman that is fighting for her survival all while killing enemies and wearing appropriate clothing for the job.  She is not viewed as sex symbol with an abnormal body (although she does look good), but instead she is viewed as a powerful, independent women that can handle her own in the face of diversity.  I personally love this new vision of Laura Croft, and the as the game play video will show, this game is shaping up to be a dark adventure that will have your heart racing throughout its duration.  I cannot wait to play this game.

Jill Valentine (Resident Evil 3)

In Resident Evil 3 you take control of Jill valentine, a ex special forces agent, as you try to escape the zombie infested Raccoon City.  Jill starts off to as being a scared women who doesn’t know what to do, but quickly changes into a zombie killing machine.  You will be solving puzzles and fighting zombies, zombie dogs, zombie dogs that are on fire, and other baddies as you try to escape with your life.  It is an intense game, and most of the time you will be running for your life.  But don’t let that image make you think that Jill is just another damsel in distress, she will shoot you on sight if she has to.  Also, it doesn’t seem that Jill visual represented as a sex symbol.  She has exposed shoulders but her body image is not abnormal. 

These are just a few examples of dominate women in video game history.  I believe that getting rid of the sexual portrayal of women in video games will never happen, but as the new consoles start to embody new technology, and games creators start using better motion caption and hire actual actresses, the sexualization of women will decrease over time.  I think it is headed in the right direction now, but we will have to see what happens in the future.

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