List characters from games that were very sexist.

[The_Echo]

The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim
Not saying the game as a whole is sexist. But I have a problem with the quest given by Svana Far-Shield in Haelga's Bunkhouse in Riften. The objective is to collect the marks of Dibella given by Haelga from the men she slept with in order to confront her with it and humiliate her. The quest is making her out to be some kind of villain just because she had sex. How dare she? You would never see a quest like this relating to a man. This is an example of slut-shaming that I'm not okay with.

To be honest, I don't think sexism or racism running in fictional worlds should be cited as examples, because those are different cultures than ours. Fictional versions of Earth, yes. But Tamriel? No. (For example, there's a bit of racial stigma towards the beast races. Does anyone care about that? Nah. If it happens to a Redguard though, holy shit guys, this game's racist!)

Also, I think it's a little odd for her to have marked the men she's slept with. And as I recall, it was revenge for Haelga treating Svana terribly.

 

[Vault101]

[

The cop-out answer:

Any male protatonist from any game ever. Grizzled, white, athletic, perfectly toned, wielding phallic totems like guns and swords.

the definitely stereotypical (annoyingly so) but sexist? generally the characters in those situations are judged on their ability to get shit done no one really cares that Marcus pharaonic is an ugly mofo, he's badass

 

[Vault101]

PS: I find it hilarious you had to specify no japanease games

Oh come on. It's not like more than half of the top 10 biggest video game companies in the world are based in Tokyo oh wait...

But the games themselves.... I mean the majority the mainstream play are made by western developers with the North American market in mind

I don't know if vanquish was a parody or seriously trying to apeal to Americans but god damn it was hilarious

 

[aba1]

I don't think people get what is sexist and what isn't. The Skyrim character is sexist because the events surounding her happened BECAUSE she is female. A sexy nun assassin is not sexist it is sexual sure but not sexist.


sexualized =/= sexist

 

[DeadlyYellow]

the definitely stereotypical (annoyingly so) but sexist? generally the characters in those situations are judged on their ability to get shit done no one really cares that Marcus pharaonic is an ugly mofo, he's badass

Going by dictionary standard:

"Sexism- attitudes or behavior based on traditional stereotypes of sexual roles."

Seems fitting to me. Most people just ignore it because it isn't degrading to women.

 

[TheMann]

Can I say Dave from Borderlands 2? If so then, yeah, Dave from Borderlands 2.
Sure it's played for laughs, but he's still is awfully sexist.

 

[Vault101]

the definitely stereotypical (annoyingly so) but sexist? generally the characters in those situations are judged on their ability to get shit done no one really cares that Marcus pharaonic is an ugly mofo, he's badass

Going by dictionary standard:

"Sexism- attitudes or behavior based on traditional stereotypes of sexual roles."

Seems fitting to me. Most people just ignore it because it isn't degrading to women.

I think your missing the part about sexism being negative behaviour based on traditional stereotypes

Gor example Marcus Phoenix as he is, not sexist....stereotypical portrayal of masculinity which may or may not have negative connotatio s but not sexist

Marcus Phoenix being denied babysitting because he's a ruff and gruff man? sexist

Also I find it incredibly hard to believe men are a maligned group when it comes to entertainment, subject to the same stereotypes and be yes, but not treated as bad as minority's at least interns of representation

 

[aguspal]

Wow.

*presses button on stopwatch* Well, this didn't take long.

See one thing is to complain when they actually make the so called "sexist" acts in a serious manner, but I highly, VERY HIGHLY do belive than the dev´s intention was some kind of conspiration aganist women or something... lke, seriously, wake up.

That's funny, I don't seem to recall accusing the developers of, er, "conspirating" against women. I said that I found the game to be traditionally sexist in a very grating way.

snip

Rest of post too cookie-cutter to deal with. "There are worse games out there, the male character isn't perfect either, it's just a JOKE etc etc ad nauseum."

Seriously, OP, I'm not doubting your intentions, but I can't see this thread going anywhere good. Already we've got someone going red in the face in an effort to deny that there's anything sexist about a game where the male character is fully covered up and the female character is dressed like a pole dancer, and the male character makes jokes while the female character makes sex noises.

All that's going to happen is the same thing that happens every time someone makes the suggestion that just maybe the content of a game might be a little sexist, or racist, or homophobic. As Lindy West put it the other day:

You might as well wear a sandwich board that says, "Yell at Me With Bad Grammar."

I'm starting to think that The Escapist just isn't capable of handling these kinds of discussions.

Nice way to pretty much ignore my post...

But, you know, after thiking about it, Its okay, I dont really want to argue about this kind of thing anymore. I rather let other people do it Who knows, maybe you are right after all. I dont really care enough to find it out, I just want to enjoy my games.



That begin said... I still think you should complain about "stronger" stuff such as, I dont know, Dead or alive games (I find those to just be outright disgusting but thats just me) as I said before. Not some minor indie game (An awesome one but thats another point).

 

[Abomination]

The OP needs to define what they mean by a sexist character.

As in a character who discriminates a gender or a character who is portrayed in a manner that players would find it sexist?

Both are completely different.

If it is the former then L.A. Noir, for example, has many because of its realistic depiction of the setting. If it is the latter then it depends what school of feminist thought the person being or not being offended thinks.

Then again I always found the latter concept to be riddled with holes and really proves next to nothing. A woman wearing a dress is "sexist" because that's woman clothing, why isn't she wearing pants?

 

[OtherSideofSky]

Are we talking about characters we believe reflect sexism on the part of the developers or characters who themselves hold sexist beliefs? The former is far more nebulous than the latter, although arguably more meaningful as a subject for discussion.

Honestly, most if not all of the games I've played recently are Japanese imports, so I don't think I'll be able to give you any examples that meet your criteria either way.

 

[Vault101]

I dont really care enough to find it out, I just want to enjoy my games.

not caring is fine....just understand that some people complaints are valid


[quote/]That begin said... I still think you should complain about "stronger" stuff such as, I dont know, Dead or alive games (I find those to just be outright disgusting but thats just me) as I said before. Not some minor indie game (An awesome one but thats another point).[/quote]
thats part of your problem, DOA is what it is...I think its dumb but it has its audience and they can have it, complaining about that is like complain about porn

its the stuff that thats more common/prevailent thats the problem..the stuff that some people just accept,

 

[Vault101]

Are we talking about characters we believe reflect sexism on the part of the developers or characters who themselves hold sexist beliefs? The former is far more nebulous than the latter, although arguably more meaningful as a subject for discussion.

I get the impression the OP is indirectly trying to say "see! see! games arent sexist!"

Can I say Dave from Borderlands 2? If so then, yeah, Dave from Borderlands 2.
Sure it's played for laughs, but he's still is awfully sexist.

true but I dont think thats what the OP meant

Dave is an in-universe example to be laughed at because he's a sexist idiot

 

[lacktheknack]

I'm starting to think that The Escapist just isn't capable of handling these kinds of discussions.

Many of us are perfectly capable of having discussions on topics like this.

You just have to have them in PMs. >__<

 

[Happiness Assassin]

Okay, why can't we list Japanese games? All the examples I was going to list were from Japanese games.

 

[lacktheknack]

Okay, why can't we list Japanese games? All the examples I was going to list were from Japanese games.

That's why.

As I said on page one, it was a smart move in a way to say no Japanese games, because one of the last things we need would be another "Oh, Japan, you crazy bastards" thread that would naturally spring up from the majority of the examples being Japanese. On the other hand, you should consider the industry as a whole, not just the parts that support your point.

 

[TheFinalFantasyWolf]

Okay, now I'll admit that this character is from a game that I have yet to finish myself, so I might need someone to either confirm or deny my suspicions. However considering what I've seen been done to her in the game, and from what people are telling me, something about her character and role seems sort of, fanservicey. In a game where that kind of material just doesn't belong.
Madison Paige from Heavy Rain.

I'd also like to mention a character from David Cages previous "masterpiece" Indigo Prophesy or Fahrenheit.
Carla Valenti, from the beginning she proves herself to be a workaholic, and a fairly determined and competent policewoman. Then, out of nowhere she turns into a love interest (I really mean out of no where), and she has sex with the protagonist, Lucas, before he sets off for the final battle. I mean it's not the love interest part that irks me, (although that sure was unneeded and cliche) but just that it is so abrupt and obvious they just needed her for another awkward sex scene to satisfy Cage. Then again I'm not sure if this is more sexism or just bad quality writing, many of the other characters in that game weren't too bright either.

 

[Vault101]

Oh, and Kojima just couldn't hold back on that fan-service. Near the end of the game she shows her breasts in an obvious attempt to reward the horny fanboys for their hard work in the game. She also wears a tight catsuit which shows her breasts off, and when she takes her cloak off she does it in an obviously sexual way; this is just another example of the sexist fan-service. Some of her final words before she dies are "Kill me, kill me now!", and she is talking to the "big strong" big boss. This says that women aren't independent enough to die themselves, they need the patriarchal male to do it for them. Oh, and she's the only reason Big Boss becomes a villain, a clear example of the female in the fridge trope.

I dont know anything about metal gear solid but I have vaugley heard about this game/charachter

I looked it up and I wouldnt have been surprised if the "unzipped down to her crotch" look was her default state, also do you actually see her breats or are oyu just refering to that part at the end?..I need to know for uhhh....research purposes...in regards to sexism.....

[small/]I'm not a pervert[/small]