Why are people saying any video games is sexist?

[itsthesheppy]

Conversely, female characters are often portrayed as sex symbols. They are given exaggerated sexual characteristics to, again, appeal to men. However, there isn't much for women to latch onto for themselves. Sure, they look nice, but they typically lack agency. They play second fiddle to male characters, and are usually only there to support the man, or to act as his prize for a job well done.

There are numerous games that buck these trends. I've actually heard compelling arguments, from women, that Bayonetta is actually a very female-positive character, and I agree with them. Yes, she is an oversexualized caricature, but the character, in her game, is very clearly the most important person in her universe. Men are second-fiddle to her, she makes her own choices, goes on her own adventure. Even her sexuality is her own; something she does for herself, because its fun for her, not for you. That is the core essence of agency. Being in control of onesself.

One time I read an article for an English Composition class (can't remember the name of the article and don't have the book anymore) where a female game journalist made an argument, both from her perspective and from women who worked on games like Blood Rayne, that sexualized female protagonists had the same effect on women that sexualized male protagonists had on men: it was liberating and empowering. So yeah, it does seem like the problem isn't so much bringing out a woman's sexuality but doing so in a way where the only benefit anyone can get from it is sex appeal.

Precisely.

Women like seeing attractive women for the same reasons men like seeing attractive men. We like to imagine ourselves as those people. The problem arises when it's very clear that the woman exists, be it in a game or book or movie, to serve the men. To appeal to the male audience, to serve as window dressing. That's where the problem is.

A lot of men like to handwave that sort of thing as "lazy writing", but a spade is a spade, folks, whatever you choose to call it. If a game portrayed a character in a racially insensitive way, I have a hard time thinking that people would be okay with just shrugging it off as 'lazy'. As if not being racist takes effort. Apparently not being sexist does? Poppycock.

 

[exxxed]

.etc

No, your perception makes it racist/sexist/.etc, you can like whatever you do but it doesn't automatically labels your self as being anything else than what YOU yourself portray to be, doesn't it?

I don't see them as sexist, I don't act on that ''feeling''(come on call me out for it, but I loves you ladies) and no one should act on feelings that emerge from... what?! a picture? a movie? a game? what are we, as humans... everyone has reason, otherwise they would have been potatoes unable to write on this forum in the first place... come on...

THINK DAMMIT!

 

[MysticSlayer]

.etc

No, your perception makes it racist/sexist/.etc, you can like whatever you do but it doesn't automatically labels your self as being anything else than what YOU yourself portray to be, doesn't it?

I don't see them as sexist, I don't act on that ''feeling''(come on call me out for it, but I loves you ladies) and no one should act on feelings that emerge from... what?! a picture? a movie? a game? what are we, as humans... everyone has reason, otherwise they would have been potatoes unable to write on this forum in the first place... come on...

THINK DAMMIT!

The thing is, it is impossible to understand what another person's intended portrayal was unless they came out specifically and explained it all (and I don't mean an Assassin's Creed-esque "this wasn't meant to offend anyone" explanation) or if you can cross-analyze it to their other works to create a compelling argument as to why it is/isn't sexist. Otherwise, all we have is the work itself and our own perception of how women are portrayed in that work. Not to mention, there is always an element in which you have to judge a work on its own merit to see how the writer and/or artist portrayed their ideas, regardless of intention. These are the bases for analyzing and judging literature and other art in academia for how long? Just because video games aren't as well-established as an art as literature is, that doesn't mean those who don't like analyzing games and their portrayal of women, or anything else found in games, should just sulk away and not talk about it. And yes, pictures and images qualify for analysis as well. Some English Composition courses will actually have you analyze pictures before you ever analyze writing. Simply saying "they're just images/fictional characters/games/etc." ignores how ideas are portrayed through all of these.

There is room for discussion. Perhaps what one person finds sexist another person doesn't. The purpose is to present those ideas in a thoughtful manner, providing both arguments for your point and counterarguments against the other person's points. Even if both sides are ultimately unconvinced of the other's position in the end, they at least have a greater understanding of the work. And it is a matter of thinking through the issues, not just what you feel. Your feelings may create an initial reaction, but many people do actually look more critically at the game, rather than just base their whole argument around their own feelings without giving an adequate, thoughtful explanation for those feelings.

 

[Smeatza]

But still, art cant be sexist.

Yes it can

Even if the game is nothing but naked women being called sluts, it isnt sexist.
Think of a painting, portraying the same, that wouldnt be considered sexist.

Yes it would.
That's not to say that the sexism wouldn't have any artistic value, or a right to exist. But it's still sexist.

Besides, name a female character from a western modern game (japan dont count because of culture that wont be changed) that is only "the tits". and then female characters that are actual characters.

I don't think it's fair to say Japanese characters "don't count." To say they're not applicable to the general values of the developed west might be fair.
Almost every female character in League of Legends. All human females in the first hour of "Of Orcs and Men." I'm all for disputing the claim that they're commonplace in western video games but they definitely exist.