The Sexualization of Men in Gaming

[babinro]

As a male, I've gradually become annoyed by the sexualization of woman in gaming. This is more from the fact that I tire of seeing the same kind of female build in games all my life with few exceptions. Thin and busty with sudden changes in how the camera operates when they are in cinematics...what a shocker.

Men in video games have almost always been the same way though. So this question goes out primarily to female gamers. Does the sexualization of males in gaming bother or annoy you? Would you prefer to play as a typical male in society or is this all part of the escape that is gaming?

 

[linkvegeta]

I think its fine, in most games being built strong and fit makes sense. because in these adventured the character would have to be fit in order to survive the ordeals. like imagine Prince of Persia as a super fat guy. The cloths they wear is a different story. I do think more of these games need characters wearing t-shirts and jeans.

 

[PrinceOfShapeir]

I don't really see Men as being all that sexualized in gaming. Maybe I'm missing something, though. Most of them are built like brick shithouses or encased in armor.

 

[pulse2]

I hate bulky male characters -_-

 

[PlasmaFrog]

Most women don't even find those mass of walking muscle and bricks attractive. Characters with some-what tights pants on, the whole six-pack going with the attractive abs and chest, as well with a handsome and masculine face is what usually get's them going.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

They need to dress more male characters up like Conan the Barbarian. Loincloth and oversized weapons. The male chainmail bikini!

 

[Kahunaburger]

This:

Spoiler

isn't really sexualization of a male character. It's a physically strong character depicted in a way that shows that. Any sex appeal the character may have is incidental.

This:

Spoiler

is more what a sexualized male character looks like. If Fenris annoys you as a male, can you see why his counterparts might annoy you if you were female?

 

[AgentNein]

The BIG difference is that women are designed in games to appeal to men for the overwhelming most part. And men are designed in games... to appeal to men too. It's really not the same. They're not sexualized, just the juvenile idealization of masculinity.

No one in there right mind would find most of these assholes attractive.

 

[Bobby_D]

The BIG difference is that women are designed in games to appeal to men for the overwhelming most part. And men are designed in games... to appeal to men too. It's really not the same. They're not sexualized, just the juvenile idealization of masculinity.

No one in there right mind would find most of these assholes attractive.

I dunno...there's something about the way Fenris looks at me that just... Nevermind. Manly thoughts.

For real, though I agree with that first paragraph, that male characters are designed BY men to appeal to a typical person's idea of masculinity.

 

[OutforEC]

For what it's worth, to the demographic that publishers cater to in order to maximize their profit, stereotypical generic "hot" women and "badass" men sell.

 

[viranimus]

No.

Because "sexualizing men" as other media has shown in the past isnt actually sexualizing them as much as it is little more than full fledged emasculation.

So how about we skip trying to make men barely distinguishable from flat chested females and accept that this is not the place to try and polish our unjustified and inflated sense of of enlightenment and tolerance.

It really reminds me of two little siblings. The first kid gets a new toy, the second kid gets mad because the first got something they didnt. Now someone tell me, how often did that work out with both kids getting something? Now tell me how many times more that resulted in both kids getting nothing and having what was given taken away.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease, but the squeaky wheel also gets changed sometimes.

 

[Katana314]

I'm not sure the problem is what you think it is. Sexualized females is fine as long as they look believable and attractive (many huge-breasted, scantily clad characters are not this.) I mean, given most people in the thread are males, think of it from this perspective: Characters like Nathan Drake, Dante, and possibly Link are (sometimes) more the woman's type. I don't think any guys have a problem playing as them. Even in instances like Metal Gear Solid 2's naked-Raiden scene was a little unusual, and more than likely meant to pander to a female audience to some extent. It still didn't ruin my playing experience at all, even if it was on the end of weird.

Now imagine if a male character made really dumb and obvious sexual remarks all the time and always went around without a shirt. (possible example: Johnny Cage, MK9, except imagine replacing his ego with his sex drive) That character doesn't sound so likable to anyone; guys or girls.
The same is mostly true for women. Most don't mind playing as a sexy, flexible lady like Lara Croft, as long as the character is okay. And they too, must put up with the over-the-top, dumb characters like the many dumb male characters that exist.

If you're getting angry about the exploitation of another gender simply because you think it would offend members of that gender, don't bother. If you're angry about it because the character seems excessively fake, and you hate listening to / looking at them, then it's a fair criticism, be it a man or a woman.

 

[Tibs]

I tend to dislike over sexualized characterized. Pretty much why I hated Miranda in Mass Effect after that one dialog scene where it focused right on her butt.

 

[AgentNein]

No.

Because "sexualizing men" as other media has shown in the past isnt actually sexualizing them as much as it is little more than full fledged emasculation.

So how about we skip trying to make men barely distinguishable from flat chested females and accept that this is not the place to try and polish our unjustified and inflated sense of of enlightenment and tolerance.

It really reminds me of two little siblings. The first kid gets a new toy, the second kid gets mad because the first got something they didnt. Now someone tell me, how often did that work out with both kids getting something? Now tell me how many times more that resulted in both kids getting nothing and having what was given taken away.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease, but the squeaky wheel also gets changed sometimes.

I stopped reading after you referred to the "emasculation" of videogame males as if "masculine" is some clearly defined concrete concept and not just a societal invention. And then I started reading again (against my better judgement) and you in so many words compared the feminist movement with whiny children. I don't even know why I read juvenile flatearth bullshit like this, I think I'm some sort of masochist.

 

[Thaluikhain]

I don't even know why I read juvenile flatearth bullshit like this, I think I'm some sort of masochist.

I heard that once you wade through the exact same knee-jerk reactionary dismissals on various places on the net a hundred times, you get a power up and you can shoot fireballs.

And/or, a serious discussion of the issues might come up somewhere, but the fireballs seem more likely.

 

[AgentNein]

I don't even know why I read juvenile flatearth bullshit like this, I think I'm some sort of masochist.

I heard that once you wade through the exact same knee-jerk reactionary dismissals on various places on the net a hundred times, you get a power up and you can shoot fireballs.

And/or, a serious discussion of the issues might come up somewhere, but the fireballs seem more likely.

I think I'm well past a hundred, no fireballs.

and yet STILL, fireballs seem more likely.

 

[viranimus]

' If you cannot unravel what I think, then the manuscript is indecipherable"

Well, I cannot stop anyone from grievously misinterpreting my words to suit their own desires or needs. However to dismiss the simplest of realities feels like a sign of a lack of world/life experience that proves the point.

Never liked having people trying to put words in my mouth. I have yet to see someone fit them correctly. Your opinion is duly noted, respect for it being given and accounted for what it is worth, So by all means go ahead and resume polishing.

Trying to get back on track, what needs to be addressed from the OP is There is entirely too much focus on sexuality in gaming period, and people far too often will force their own ideas and logic onto games where it should have never been. Thats why we need to move away from oversexualization period.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

I think its fine, in most games being built strong and fit makes sense. because in these adventured the character would have to be fit in order to survive the ordeals. like imagine Prince of Persia as a super fat guy. The cloths they wear is a different story. I do think more of these games need characters wearing t-shirts and jeans.

Agreed.

I'm pretty suck of games where the male characters look like they just came out of an S&M club as 2 in the morning.

 

[TehCookie]

As a female gamers, it does annoy the shit out of me. All the virtual women are sexualized for men, and all the men are sexualised for men. You need a reality check if you think most girls love raging steroid-beasts. If there was an equal balance of hot girls and hot guys I wouldn't mind, since I would have my own eyecandy. As it stands you will mostly likely see a slut and a shaven bear, and both are unpleasant.

Funny thing is, when you do have non-body builders as protagonists (like the JRPG characters) guys tend to hate it.