Poll: What do you think is Offensive to Women in Games?

[RelexCryo]

Please vote for the mildest thing you think is an offense to Women, the "line in the sand" if you will-the point at which content becomes sexist and an offense to women. Personally, I don't believe that games in which all women are beautiful, are an offense to women-I feel that the inherent nature of a fantasy is that it strives to be "more" than real life in certain aspects. I also don't have anything against girls getting their own eye candy. Depicting all characters, male and female, as being very attractive is really more elitism than sexism.

On the other hand, I would certainly agree that any game which implies a womens body is more important than her mind is offensive. But there is a difference between placing importance on the body and placing none on the mind. Simply put, heroes/heroines are often Attractive, Smart, and Powerful- that's why they are heroes/heroines. To me that is not sexism, that is elitism. So why is there so much complaining about how it is offensive to women for the female characters to be attractive? What's your thoughts on the subject? Please help me to understand your viewpoint.

I basically listed all the things that I have heard women complain about. I am sorry if the poll can't complain all the complexities. Just vote for whatever you think is inherently wrong/sexist. For example, if consensual "harem" games where all girls are submissive and beautiful are inherently wrong, that would also make a Dominatrix video game where all men are submissive, obedient studs inherently wrong/sexist against men.

 

[StarStruckStrumpets]

*Facepalm*

This thread isn't going to end well...

In my opinion, I don't like games where women are just treated as sexual objects instead of people, but then again, most games that are like that cater to men anyway.

 

[RelexCryo]

*Facepalm*

This thread isn't going to end well...

In my opinion, I don't like games where women are just treated as sexual objects instead of people, but then again, most games that are like that cater to men anyway.

Ah, but what exactly consitutes that? That is the question. Is it simply depicting all the female characters as beautiful? Or is it depicting them all as beautiful and submissive? Or is even THAT perfectly fine, as some women/men enjoy porn/games where the women are very powerful, and the men are attractive/submissive to them? In short, if women have the right to be dominatrixes, why would a male domme harem game be inherently wrong?

I certainly agree that depicting women as less than men is offensive, but what consitutes that exactly? If games in which all women are submissive and beautiful are morally wrong, does that mean a game with a Female Dominatrix lead who dominates men would be morally wrong?

 

[StarStruckStrumpets]

*Facepalm*

This thread isn't going to end well...

In my opinion, I don't like games where women are just treated as sexual objects instead of people, but then again, most games that are like that cater to men anyway.

Ah, but what exactly consitutes that? That is the question. Is it simply depicting all the female characters as beautiful? Or is it depicting them all as beautiful and submissive? Or is even THAT perfectly fine, as some women/men enjoy porn/games where the women are very powerful, and the men are attractive/submissive to them?

I certainly agree that depicting women as less than men, as less than human is offensive, but what consitutes that exactly?

Your last question is the one I can answer easily, in GTA4 most guys refer to women as "Pussy." That is what I mean, they're not people, they're just things to have sex with. I don't agree with that AT ALL. Your first question is kinda hrd to answer though...lemme think.

 

[RelexCryo]

*Facepalm*

This thread isn't going to end well...

In my opinion, I don't like games where women are just treated as sexual objects instead of people, but then again, most games that are like that cater to men anyway.

Ah, but what exactly consitutes that? That is the question. Is it simply depicting all the female characters as beautiful? Or is it depicting them all as beautiful and submissive? Or is even THAT perfectly fine, as some women/men enjoy porn/games where the women are very powerful, and the men are attractive/submissive to them?

I certainly agree that depicting women as less than men, as less than human is offensive, but what consitutes that exactly?

Your last question is the one I can answer easily, in GTA4 most guys refer to women as "Pussy." That is what I mean, they're not people, they're just things to have sex with. I don't agree with that AT ALL. Your first question is kinda hrd to answer though...lemme think.

I agree with the pussy comment, that is offensive.

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

My locked-thread sense is tingling.
I can't draw an exact line for those as some are offensive, but some that would be seen as "worse" I'd say are ok.

 

[ix_tab]

Way too complex to be answered by a poll! Each of those options have offensive/non offensive connotations, with the exception of rape porn, which is always offensive.

 

[RelexCryo]

I basically listed all the things that I have heard women complain about. I am sorry if the poll can't complain all the complexities. Just vote for whatever you think is inherently wrong/sexist. For example, if consensual "harem" games wehre all girls are submissive and beautiful are inherently wrong, that would also make a Dominatrix video game, where all men are submissive studs to their dominatrix inherently wrong.

 

[Grype]

Not all women are beautiful (shocker) and games where women are always portrayed as perfection would surely irritate the majority. This would only apply for men if we gave a shit.

Also where curvy teens are begging the male char for sex, that gets on my nerves, why doesn't that happen to me?
EDIT: On second thoughts don't answer that question

 

[RelexCryo]

Not all women are beautiful (shocker) and games where women are always portrayed as perfection would surely irritate the majority. This would only apply for men if we gave a shit.

Also where curvy teens are begging the male char for sex, that gets on my nerves, why doesn't that happen to me?

And therein lies the question: If we men are fine with girls getting their own eye candy, is it really sexism? Since we are fine with women getting equal treatment under that system.

Apart from which, isn't elitism an almost inherent nature of heroes/heroines? Aren't they usually people we wish we could be?

 

[AmrasCalmacil]

Where's the 'Duke Nukem' option?

I wouldn't have thought characters being equal through different strengths could be offensive though, unless Lego Indiana Jones annoyed a lot of femenists.

 

[RelexCryo]

Where's the 'Duke Nukem' option?

I wouldn't have thought characters being equal through different strengths could be offensive though, unless Lego Indiana Jones annoyed a lot of femenists.

A lot of women believe that women really CAN do anything men can do, and that the idea of men being physically stronger on average is a lie. They see games which perpetuate this lie as offensive to women. Hence, an Oblivion-esque RPG in which men get plus 1 to strength and women get plus 1 to agility would tick them off.

 

[Grype]

Not all women are beautiful (shocker) and games where women are always portrayed as perfection would surely irritate the majority. This would only apply for men if we gave a shit.

Also where curvy teens are begging the male char for sex, that gets on my nerves, why doesn't that happen to me?

And therein lies the question: If we men are fine with girls getting their own eye candy, is it really sexism? Since we are fine with women getting equal treatment under that system.

Apart from which, isn't elitism an almost inherent nature of heroes/heroines? Aren't they usually people we wish we could be?

Yeh, I agree they shouldn't get pissed off about it but (sexism warning) women get more worked up about things than men, imo.
As for heroes being perfect, yeh again youre right but its not only the heroines who are drop dead gorgeous (if a little cgi) its any female character other than the wicked witch who is so topheavy they should hardly be able to stand, obvious exception is the sims where everyone is fugly.

 

[Daveman]

Submissive and beautiful. Fable only just was shy of that because it gave them hidious west country accents making them all stupidly unattractive if completely submissive (as they married you if you so much as spoke to them).

 

[Clashero]

I voted for women being shown as beautiful and submissive. That's where I say the line is drawn, and the point in which I consider the game sexist.

Traditional social structure isn't wrong. Could you possibly imagine a Victorian era game (if such a thing exists) in which women are more powerful than men? It would kill the historical accuracy.
What if Oscar Wilde had envisioned women to be exactly equal to men? Lady Windermere's Fan would have been pretty dull, then.

I think a perfect example of a game that is NOT sexist is the new Prince of Persia. Both characters, being of different genders and different races (and I'm saying races in the fantasy sense of the word), have different skills and abilities. The prince can use his agility and strength to perform great acrobatics and fight. What Elika lacks in strength she makes up for it in her magic. While the Prince wallruns using his gauntlet and body, Elika uses magic to attach herself to the wall.

Also, whenever the Prince fails, Elika saves him from death. She rejects his lecherous comments, sometimes so wittily that she shuts the Prince up for good. She's driven, determined, pretty while not having epic boobs, is definitely smarter and more well-read than the Prince, and is also very indepedent (to the point where she

Spoiler: DLC spoiler

totally legs it at the end of the Epilogue

 

[RelexCryo]

Where's the 'Duke Nukem' option?

I wouldn't have thought characters being equal through different strengths could be offensive though, unless Lego Indiana Jones annoyed a lot of femenists.

A lot of women believe that women really CAN do anything men can do, and that the idea of men being physically stronger on average is a lie. They see games which perpetuate this lie as offensive to women. Hence, an Oblivion-esque RPG in which men get plus 1 to strength and women get plus 1 to agility would tick them off.

Yet many groups aren't ticked off by all the tests that show that women are better at multitasking, verbal ability (on average), and olfactory sense. They only seem to get annoyed when its a negative stereotype and welcome the positive. If you don't like stereotypes you have to fight them all negative or positive.

I totally agree. We should fight for Gender Equality, rather than just better treatment for women. Women certainly should not be oppressed, but men shouldn't be discriminated against either.

 

[RelexCryo]

Not all women are beautiful (shocker) and games where women are always portrayed as perfection would surely irritate the majority. This would only apply for men if we gave a shit.

Also where curvy teens are begging the male char for sex, that gets on my nerves, why doesn't that happen to me?

And therein lies the question: If we men are fine with girls getting their own eye candy, is it really sexism? Since we are fine with women getting equal treatment under that system.

Apart from which, isn't elitism an almost inherent nature of heroes/heroines? Aren't they usually people we wish we could be?

Yeh, I agree they shouldn't get pissed off about it but (sexism warning) women get more worked up about things than men, imo.
As for heroes being perfect, yeh again youre right but its not only the heroines who are drop dead gorgeous (if a little cgi) its any female character other than the wicked witch who is so topheavy they should hardly be able to stand, obvious exception is the sims where everyone is fugly.

That's a good point. On average, men get more eye candy than women, which is unfair. It is pretty much every woman in many stories, despite a large amount of unattractive men. But is giving both genders plenty of eye candy inherently unfair? What if the amount of male/female eye candy was totally equal?

 

[RelexCryo]

I voted for women being shown as beautiful and submissive. That's where I say the line is drawn, and the point in which I consider the game sexist.

Traditional social structure isn't wrong. Could you possibly imagine a Victorian era game (if such a thing exists) in which women are more powerful than men? It would kill the historical accuracy.
What if Oscar Wilde had envisioned women to be exactly equal to men? Lady Windermere's Fan would have been pretty dull, then.

I think a perfect example of a game that is NOT sexist is the new Prince of Persia. Both characters, being of different genders and different races (and I'm saying races in the fantasy sense of the word), have different skills and abilities. The prince can use his agility and strength to perform great acrobatics and fight. What Elika lacks in strength she makes up for it in her magic. While the Prince wallruns using his gauntlet and body, Elika uses magic to attach herself to the wall.

Also, whenever the Prince fails, Elika saves him from death. She rejects his lecherous comments, sometimes so wittily that she shuts the Prince up for good. She's driven, determined, pretty while not having epic boobs, is definitely smarter and more well-read than the Prince, and is also very indepedent (to the point where she

Spoiler: DLC spoiler

totally legs it at the end of the Epilogue

Would you say that a Dominatrix "harem" game in which all men are cute studs who are submissive to women is inherently sexist towards men and wrong?