Arkham City.... Sexist?

[BreakfastMan]

So, Kotaku recently posted an article how Arkham City might contain some elements of sexism. Take a look. [http://kotaku.com/5851358/batman-arkham-citys-weird-*****-fixation] What do you all think? Is the overuse of the word "*****" in this context just simply unfortunately lackluster writing? Or is it something more?

Some takes on this from others:
http://filmcrithulk.wordpress.com/2011/10/19/goddammit-video-games-the-first-few-hours-of-arkham-city-is-lots-of-fun-but-super-duper-sexist/
http://gameoverthinker.blogspot.com/2011/10/will-arkham-city-be-this-years-other-m.html

 

[Fiz_The_Toaster]

Two things, and I'm not trying to be rude here:

1. What would you like them to call her when she's kicking their ass? I would call the situation in that picture quite accurate.

2. Catwoman was always sexualized, and look at Batman. Tell me all those muscle aren't there for fan service to the ladies.

EDIT: Stop quoting me, I don't even care anymore.

 

[Kopikatsu]

They're hardened criminals-possibly-murderers who've been stuck in prison for years with nary a female to be seen.

Is it really 'out there' to think they might call a woman who is kicking their asses a '*****', and that they're just sexually frustrated?

As has been said, Catwoman is little more than a sex symbol anyway. (Hell, in most continuities she's a prostitute.)

No, Catwoman isn't going to 'set the industry back' like the first link says. FFS. It's like people forget how much sex is in movies/tv shows nowadays.

Edit: And that first article? The author must be a paragon of awesomeness. Everyone knows that caps lock is cruise control for cool.

 

[awesomeClaw]

You know, if a woman was trying to break every bone in my body, I´m pretty sure I´d call her a ***** too.

OMG Sexits am i rite?

 

[Zhukov]

Eh.

I agree with the 'Hulk' articles in that the whole this is clumsy, meaningless, thoughtless and completely lacking in finesse, but sexist...? I don't know.

They're calling her a ***** because they're not nice people and she's kicking them in the face. She's a woman. When someone wants to yell something nasty at a woman, "*****" is kind of the got-to word. Especially when your dialogue is written by people who were probably unwilling to use anything stronger.

If anything, I'd say it's just another awkward attempt at maturity rather than misogyny or sexism. Because, as everyone knows, maturity consists of breasts, blood and profanity, right?

I dunno, I'm a guy. Maybe it all comes across differently to women.

And now, I'm outa here. This thread is going to turn into a textual sewer in record time, probably starting with the moment that any female tries to say anything. Hey, let's see how long it takes for someone to bring up "femi-nazis" or "reverse sexism"

...

PS. As for Mr Gameoverthinker and his bitter Other M comparisons, he's just sore that people said nasty things about a Nintendo property.

 

[Braedan]

Sexism IN media does't mean that said media IS sexist. Stupid people can't tell the difference, but it's possible for an author/creator's characters to be racist, sexist, murderous fucks without said creator to be one. It's called believable characters and quality writing.

 

[Thaluikhain]

One of those articles cited says that it's the tone of teh game that makes it sexist, not the words tehmselves (which makes sense). Having not played tha game, I can't comment.

Sexist/racist/homophobic slurs...well, if the game is supposed to reflect real life, you'd expect such things to pop up. But there are ways of doing it.

 

[brunothepig]

What the hell? The hardened criminals yell at Catwoman for being a *****? How sexist! Oh my god, that's horrible. Fucking hell this is retarded.

 

[The Geek Lord]

Haven't played the game, probably never will. I'm just gonna say this though: It's a Batman game.

Batman.

You know, FUCKING BATMAN. The series about a guy waltzing around dressed as a rodent beating up bad guys who just sort of "are evil."

I mean, when you willingly work for the fucking Joker, chances are you're not that bright anyway... And have a lack of survival instinct.

Maybe the rest of the game is sexist, I 'unno. But a bunch of one-dimensional goons screaming "*****" all the time? Sure, it might be a little redundant, but if that's your first argument I'm not even going to bother looking at the rest of them.

 

[Trippy Turtle]

Well... If this was actually meant to be sexist then I am sure people could fucking grow up and move on.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Funny how this only comes up when women get insulted, but not with men... now that is sexist

 

[Fiz_The_Toaster]

Funny how this only comes up when women get insulted, but not with men... now that is sexist

....There's sexism against men? Surely you jest.

[sub][sub]I'm really joking, please don't take me seriously. Pretty please?[/sub][/sub]

 

[twistedheat15]

Funny how this only comes up when women get insulted, but not with men... now that is sexist

What a sexist statement! /appalled!

 

[LilithSlave]

It's not about saying *****.

It's about the overall tone. Which I have to say, is pretty messed up seeming.

Not that I'm a big Batman or even cape fan. I've never been big on superhero comics, especially the caped variety. My favourite thing about Batman has always been characters like Harle Quinn, Baby Doll, and so forth. Heck, I like Robin a lot better than Batman. He isn't brooding like Batman and doesn't have the "I've been smoking too much" voice.

I also miss the days when Batman was more campy and wasn't so musclebound, grim, and trying to be taken seriously.

Now that was a better Batman.

 

[DementedSheep]

...So some uneducated goons are calling Catwomen a ***** allot? Yeah I would expect that, especially when she is kicking them in the face. Granted I havn't played the game so can't comment on overall tone but this seems like an overreaction.

 

[WolfThomas]

In real life people would probably be dropping a word that's a lot worse.

 

[LilithSlave]

I feel that these all caps need to be quoted:

SO LET?S MAKE IT PRETTY CLEAR: REFRAINING FROM SEXISM DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU CAN?T HAVE CHARACTERS IN REVEALING OUTFITS, OR THAT YOU CAN?T USE THE WORD ?*****,? OR THAT YOU CAN?T SAY BAD THINGS ABOUT FEMALE CHARACTERS, OR THAT YOU HAVE TO BE SOME PARAGON OF GOODNESS AND PROVIDE G-RATED POSITIVE ROLE MODELS FOR EVERYONE. YOU CAN TOTALLY DO THOSE THINGS. IT?S JUST A MATTER OF HOW YOU PRESENT IT.