I think I know why gamers react so vocally to sexism (theory)

[Erttheking]

I have a theory that I have been rolling around in my head ever since Jim Sterling's video on "isms". I think I may have a possible explanation for why everyone reacts so violently to sexism in video games, whether they're trying to expose it or argue that it doesn't exist.

Because gamers don't WANT to be sexist.

I should explain myself, I think it's safe to say that no one (or very few people) on this website are sexist, yet the various people on this website are all over the place when it comes to sexism. I think that is because they don't want to be sexist. You see, gamers are sensitive and defensive when it comes to accusation. This is something that isn't unjustified considering that when games are not being blamed for school shootings

http://techcrunch.com/2012/12/21/the-nra-blames-video-games-for-school-shootings-sigh/

They're being blamed for pedophilia, causing dogs to attack people, turning people into sex maniacs.
http://www.gamesradar.com/the-top-7-most-insane-things-videogames-have-been-blamed-for/

and CAUSING CANCER (seriously)
http://www.destructoid.com/videogames-now-accused-of-giving-children-cancer-241979.phtml

So I think it's safe to say that gamers have reason to be sensitive. We're kind of a punching bag for the older media, which is commonly trying to paint us as a kind of exile, and I think we want to be accepted, we want to be viewed as normal, we want to be viewed as mature, we want to stop being the ***** that acts as a scapegoat the second anything goes wrong in the world, and we want to stop being viewed as immature for still playing video games when we age beyond 20 and there is nothing wrong with that.

It's because of this that I think that we're so sensitive when it comes to sexism, we don't want to be viewed as an intolerant community that acts as a teenage boys club. Some people decide that the best way to address this is to confront the sexism directly in an attempt to bring attention to it and expunge it. Others disagree with the supposed sexism because they honestly don't see it, and viciously defend said game. However, this is not because they themselves are sexist, and I think I know why they defend the game with such zeal. It's because its usually about a game they love dearly, and by someone saying that the game is sexist, that translates into their mind that THEY are sexist for enjoying a sexist game, which is why they defend said game with such zeal, I had this same mindset and I felt this way when Ashley got her character redesigned in ME3.

So really, my theory is that people act so violently to sexism in gaming, is that they don't want to be sexist, but differing opinions on whether games really are sexist, what qualifies as being sexist, and if they are how it should be addressed, turns things into a bit of a cluster fuck.

Well, that's my theory.

 

[SonicWaffle]

So really, my theory is that people act so violently to sexism in gaming, is that they don't want to be sexist, but differing opinions on whether games really are sexist, what qualifies as being sexist, and if they are how it should be addressed, turns things into a bit of a cluster fuck.

Well, that's my theory.

Yeah, pretty much. There's also the boredom factor - sexism in gaming is becoming a more prominent topic, and more and more people and websites are addressing it. This means we read about it a lot. Countless threads and articles and videos all disecting the presence of sexism, the reasons behind sexism in games, how we might combat sexism. Put it all together and it's not uncommon for people to suffer a burnout from over-exposure, to the point where even gamers who are fully supportive of equality will want everyone to just shut the fuck up about sexism for a little while.

Certainly most people do not want to be thought of as sexist (you'll notice that even on websites advocating Men's Rights, which are often nothing more than anti-feminist movements who want everything to go back to how it used to be, they don't like to be accused of sexism. They're much more likely to claim that women are being sexist toward men, and that they are simply trying to balance the scales) so it makes sense that they'd get angry at the implication that they might be sexist for enjoying the entertainment media they do. Some may actually be bitterly misogynist, true, but they're a minority. For the most part you're bang on though, and it goes far beyond sexism - nobody likes to see the things they love slapped with negative labels, as they feel that people are applying the same label to them.

 

[Dr. Cakey]

*****

SEXISM!

...

I have an alternate theory. Marketing departments are actually invaders from another dimension who are brainwashing us into becoming their slaves by imprinting multidimensional images into our minds, and these images coincidentally happen to appear to be images of T&A.

 

[Erttheking]

*****

SEXISM!

...

I have an alternate theory. Marketing departments are actually invaders from another dimension who are brainwashing us into becoming their slaves by imprinting multidimensional images into our minds, and these images coincidentally happen to appear to be images of T&A.

'
.........eh......ok..........that's one way to look at it I suppose.

 

[Lugbzurg]

It's because its usually about a game they love dearly, and by someone saying that the game is sexist, that translates into their mind that THEY are sexist for enjoying a sexist game, which is why they defend said game with such zeal, I had this same mindset and I felt this way when Ashley got her character redesigned in ME3.

I can understand this. It reminds me of something about myself. I really like Rosario + Vampire. However, the echi (fanservice) is the only thing I really hate about it.

I absolutely cannot stand false accusations. They drive me crazy.

 

[Something Amyss]

So I think it's safe to say that gamers have reason to be sensitive.

Not really any more than numerous other groups. Hell, the only groups I can think of who have reacted on a scale comparable to gamers are people who have actually had their divil rights directly challenged (mostly brown people who seem to bear the brunt of the blame for all of America's woes in an election year and who actually see legislation attacking them really come to full force).

The notion that gamers don't want to be sexist is true, but that's not unique. The dismissive nature of sexism claims not only in other media but also real life demonstrates that.

However, given the histrionics from gamers, you'd think they'd actually had some right taken away by simply addressing sexism. Because the evil women are coming to take their shit away or something.

I wonder how many gamers would trade their "persecution" for the persecution of the people they scream about. People of colour (TERRERESTS! ILLEGUL IMMIGANTS!), gays (KILL THEM! BEAT THEM! KEEP THEM AWAY FROM OUR CHILDREN!), women (RAPE IS OKAY BECAUSE BITCHES IS ASKING FOR IT!), etc.

Gamers may not want to be sexist, but that doesn't excuse the persecution complex and the childish, disproportionate responses.

 

[Something Amyss]

Video games have become the scapegoat to stuff nowadays, used to be stuff like rock music and violent comics, now it's this.

I wonder how many rock music fans threatened to rape someone for questioning the lyrics to a song.

 

[Erttheking]

Gamers may not want to be sexist, but that doesn't excuse the persecution complex and the childish, disproportionate responses.

I'm sorry what? What persecution complex? I'm sorry but I have a sour attitude towards that phrase because one person went off on a tangent that I had one when I made a joke about PETA going after Far Cry 3 for allowing you to kill two dozen animals is just as many ways.

Also can you really say that all gamers are assholes when the people that run off and shoot their mouths off are a vocal minority? A few bad apples does not a harvest spoil.

 

[Frostbite3789]

Video games have become the scapegoat to stuff nowadays, used to be stuff like rock music and violent comics, now it's this.

I wonder how many rock music fans threatened to rape someone for questioning the lyrics to a song.

Back when music was the media scapegoat, every two bit fool didn't have access to something like the internet to easily sound off with anonymity.

 

[Mikejames]

Just about everything being accused of being sexist is not even close to sexism

I don't know if I'd go that far.

There are unjustified accusations but I wouldn't say the issue's nonexistent.

 

[RobfromtheGulag]

Don't want to be sexist or don't want to be called sexist (these may be one and the same).

Either way I'd like to get a clear definition before people start accusing. And then there's the outlier statement 'The Games Industry is Sexist' [as pertains to developers in their offices and their actions towards one another]. That one really gets me.

 

[WanderingFool]

So really, my theory is that people act so violently to sexism in gaming, is that they don't want to be sexist, but differing opinions on whether games really are sexist, what qualifies as being sexist, and if they are how it should be addressed, turns things into a bit of a cluster fuck.

Well, that's my theory.

I cant tell you how happy I am that these actually exist, made the image search so much easier...

Anyways, I do like it. I would say it makes sense, and if I really had the strength to care anymore about the whole affair, I would give it more support.

 

[Erana]

Describing characters that would better resonate with me has been said to sound like I'm complaining about sexism.
The sad thing is, a big part of what I do want to see in characters I find identifiable is just to have characters that aren't defined by their sex, regardless of what that sex is.

That being said, video games are a baby medium that is getting a lot of love and is guaranteed growth as long as computers in general advance. It'll get better, don't you worry.

 

[marcooos]

Can we have a new rule on the forums? No more sexism, mass effect 3, gun control or sexist gun control in mass effect 3 threads for at least 6 months. Please for the love of various gods

 

[SeanSeanston]

Sexism in particular? Games are sexist. Not all of them but the majority of women portrayed in games are eye candy unrealistically attractive and sexualised.

In fairness, the vast majority of main male characters are also unrealistically muscly or some such. The male characters tend to be **** in the main as well.
Case in point: the whole cast of Gears of War. Not to mention being annoying.

You can't say Nathan Drake or someone either is a realistic example of the average man. But then... who wants average anyway? Games are in the main not about real life and usually have no connection to it.

Just like in every other media which pictures exist. Sexism in games isn't an issue, sexism in our CULTURE (western culture, not games culture) is the issue.

To be fair, the genders are also just judged differently in society.

e.g. Women need to be good-looking, men need to be rich and/or tall etc. Maybe why no game heroes are ever particularly short, eh? That's something to think about

Men and women are not actually the same thing, so it's no surprise that they will always be treated somewhat differently to some extent. That's not nice if you happen to be in a situation where that ****s you over, but different expectations are given to different things.

I mean, women are sexualized in games by having big tits etc. but men are sexualized (in more of a "women want him and MEN WANT TO BE HIM" sort of way but ultimately it's largely the same result) by being muscle-bound, chisel-jawed annoyances like Marcus Fenix.

EDIT: However, as an aside, with the gaming audience consisting mostly of men and the same to be said of the industry... does that mean that perhaps "we" have some kind of obligation to go easier on the sexualization and whatnot because there are relatively few women (or they make up 50% or more depending on what bull**** stat you believe) among us?
Maybe. Perhaps. I dunno.

My point being if you're going to sexualize... men and women are sexualized differently in the first place. I mean take Golden Axe as a perfect example: Ax Battler and Tyris Flare are equally sexualized and equally absurdly impractically dressed for the occasion. But if gaming was as up its own arse 20+ years ago as it is now, Tyris Flare would be a sexist depiction of women and Ax Battler would be the height of practicality in a fantasy medieval warzone.