Chapter 6.5 of our textbook explored images of women in video games.  Traditionally women have been presented in the following roles:  Damsels in Distress, Femme Fatales, or Buxom Babes.

The chapter concludes as follows:

“What remains to be seen is whether images of women, which in the past were nearly absent from virtual worlds, will evolve beyond what one game producer called “fantasy art wet dream material” (”Girl trouble, 1998, p. 99) and into strong, independent characters th at are not trapped by sexist stereotypes.

This blog assignment gives you the opportunity to become a video game designer.  Describe how you would “redesign” women in a video game of your own creation so that they are not trapped by sexist stereotypes.

Please post to your personal blogs by 10 a.m. on Monday, November 16.

 

Well, honestly I‘m not a big fan of video games – by that I mean I don’t like them at all would really rather society go on without them. However, if for some unforeseen reason, I had to design one that included women, there is a lot I would change from the current representation. The design would obviously be tailored to fit the genre of game, but a few areas would remain constant. I would definitely nix the “fantasy art wet dream material” and drop the sex appeal in exchange for a woman whose cleavage is covered and body it clothed. I would lose the domineering sex icon for a more wholesome and realistic girl. She can still be brave and adventurous but will represent more of a Disney character look than a porn star.

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