I've decided to take advantage of the sudden wave of threads debating feminism to cover a topic I've been wrestling with personally over the Summer.
You see, I'm developing a game. The specifics aren't that important, but the basic premise is that you are a fairy, fighting in a chaotic guerilla war for control over a vital resource. Since I'm a writer at heart, it's very story-intensive and character-driven. Also, I pride myself on challenging conventions, so I decided that (rather fittingly, I think) fairy society would have inverted gender roles. In other words, women are more likely to be found in the role of scientists, doctors, soldiers, corporate executives, law enforcers, etc. and men are more likely to be found in the role of nurses and teachers and fashion models and househusbands. The idea is that it would mirror contemporary society, so while those conventions are becoming outdated in the game world, there would still be a skew (and especially since the game takes place in a military setting, the cast is about 75% female).
Don't get me wrong, the game isn't "about" feminism. It's just part of the world-building. I'd address it mostly through understatement and playing with the player's expectations. No heavy-handed lectures or anything. Personally, I think "feminism" is a bit of a misnomer: I think it would be more constructive if feminists referred to themselves as a more gender-neutral term like "supporter of equal rights between sexes". I think that would, ironically, be more in the spirit of what feminism stands for.
In any case, feminism is one of the themes I've chosen to explore throughout the game. I'm just wondering what people's initial reactions to that concept are.
On a similar note, how would people react to 75% of the cast being female? Do you think guys will be turned off by it being "too girly"? That whole My Little Pony craze was what really convinced me my game idea might work, but there's a difference between a guilty pleasure kid's show and a game that expects you to take it seriously. Like, what if Mass Effect or Deus Ex had a 75% female cast?
You see, I'm developing a game. The specifics aren't that important, but the basic premise is that you are a fairy, fighting in a chaotic guerilla war for control over a vital resource. Since I'm a writer at heart, it's very story-intensive and character-driven. Also, I pride myself on challenging conventions, so I decided that (rather fittingly, I think) fairy society would have inverted gender roles. In other words, women are more likely to be found in the role of scientists, doctors, soldiers, corporate executives, law enforcers, etc. and men are more likely to be found in the role of nurses and teachers and fashion models and househusbands. The idea is that it would mirror contemporary society, so while those conventions are becoming outdated in the game world, there would still be a skew (and especially since the game takes place in a military setting, the cast is about 75% female).
This is an early optional conversation you can have with a male teammate. It's actually the first mention of fairy society and very succinctly sums things up.
Terra: Hm, it's unusual to see a guy in the military.
Rick: You got a problem with that?
T: No, it's just... interesting, is all.
R: You know, in human society, males have always been the dominant gender.
T: Huh. There must be far less conflict amongst humankind in that case.
R: Nah, it's actually about the same.
Terra: Hm, it's unusual to see a guy in the military.
Rick: You got a problem with that?
T: No, it's just... interesting, is all.
R: You know, in human society, males have always been the dominant gender.
T: Huh. There must be far less conflict amongst humankind in that case.
R: Nah, it's actually about the same.
Don't get me wrong, the game isn't "about" feminism. It's just part of the world-building. I'd address it mostly through understatement and playing with the player's expectations. No heavy-handed lectures or anything. Personally, I think "feminism" is a bit of a misnomer: I think it would be more constructive if feminists referred to themselves as a more gender-neutral term like "supporter of equal rights between sexes". I think that would, ironically, be more in the spirit of what feminism stands for.
In any case, feminism is one of the themes I've chosen to explore throughout the game. I'm just wondering what people's initial reactions to that concept are.
On a similar note, how would people react to 75% of the cast being female? Do you think guys will be turned off by it being "too girly"? That whole My Little Pony craze was what really convinced me my game idea might work, but there's a difference between a guilty pleasure kid's show and a game that expects you to take it seriously. Like, what if Mass Effect or Deus Ex had a 75% female cast?
