You say that, but you seem the perfect example of someone who needs to be made aware of the issue. If you've watched Anita's videos before, you've already been presented many sexist representations of women, in video games that I imagine you may like. (Some representations, perhaps, more severe than others.) The typically male protagonist is put in an ever greater position of power by continually subjugating or destroying enemies, in a quest to save a (pardon the crude depiction) vagina on legs, put into a position of complete powerlessness. It does not matter that a position of distress 'suits' a kidnapped princess. The character is irrelevant. The creator has every ability to present a female character other than a princess, and other than a feeble, defenseless person. The choice of the designer to make the character a "trophy" in need of rescue is part of the issue, and is most likely related to standard perceptions of female gender roles.Retrogamer0001 wrote:If you're looking to address "the root cause" for gender inequality and sexism, you're definitely looking in the wrong place.
The reaction of, 'It's not that bad,' 'It's our medium, anyway,' 'Women should sit down, shut up, and like it if they want to be a part of our hobby,' is not acceptable. I suspect that the intense defensiveness is based partly on fear that enjoyment of games like Mario will connote sexism. Rest easy: You do not need to disavow your love for Mario because its creator is a sexist pig. If you understand that Princess Peach and Princess Zelda are not positive examples of women, then that is all that's required of you. You do not need to join the feminist movement, or rally for women's rights. The only thing that's being asked of you is the understanding that gender equality is a process that comes from greater representation of positive gender roles for all genders. (Including, and--god, especially--transgendered people.)
It is not okay to brush the argument aside because you perceive it to be intruding on the space beyond your personal bubble. This is clearly the perfect place for the discussion of gender roles, and how they hurt certain genders more than others. You are not being attacked by "feminazis"; you are being asked to understand why there are women who feel uncomfortable with how they are being represented in video games, and in society. Your favorite games are not being attacked. You are being asked to examine the relationships of characters in those games, and hopefully come to the realization that they are not how women should be depicted. (In some ways, particularly in this medium.)
Wow....
Centipede was created by a women. Just so people can have some modicum of context.
