Why does sexism persist in the video games industry?

[laklak]

Who cares? Get a fucking life.

[Svartalf]

I just wish I could spend my life fucking...
As things stand, I have to get other interests

[laklak]

That's why the female characters look like anime Lolitas, all those sweaty basement dwelling lads are looking for a fucking life. Mind you, it's a virtual fucking life, but at least you don't have to brush your teeth.

[tuco]

I would guess those involved in gaming care. As why is this of any interest, Mr Gaider, as developer, has some insight to it. If for anything, for business purpose. How do we design our game? Who is our target audience? How do they react to what we create? etc .. all this has, well not really "life" implications, but business implications at least.

btw "get life" is internet meme right? that would be interesting topic in itself, what it means "to get life". just to note the obvious, anyone posting here has life, that is unless there are bots posting here.

[JimC]

For some, their entire social life is this forum...

[tuco]

Creating Your Fantasy Self
An Analysis of Ethnicity in Character Creators in Computer Fantasy RolePlaying Games - http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/di ... TEXT01.pdf

via

Options for Ethnicity in Character Creators, Part 1: Race in Games - http://gamasutra.com/blogs/FridaSvensso ... _Games.php

An argument is that having a determined, for example, Black human race will help strengthen the presence of different ethnicities in the game world. A few of the interviewees were on the same track: “It will help to "normalize" various ethnicities instead of everyone choosing a "default" white human and then making "exotic" character variations.” But the majority of the people interviewed had a negative stance about having several human races, saying that it would be an easy way to implement racism and stereotyping, dismiss the need for characters of color in the game world, and for the player base to ignore the non-White playable characters. “The differences are too complicated and ultimately too marginal for it to represent any significant dynamics among different human races.” We agree that the danger of having several playable human races with different abilities specific to their race is indeed that it may subconsciously reinforces stereotypes and creates prejudice towards real-life ethnicities.

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[rachelbean]

That's why the female characters look like anime Lolitas, all those sweaty basement dwelling lads are looking for a fucking life. Mind you, it's a virtual fucking life, but at least you don't have to brush your teeth.

Oh come on, whilst that may represent a type of gamer it just doesn't hold up to reality in 2016. There are plenty of social, successful and interesting people that spend a decent amount of time gaming and care about the quality of their games and even the politics behind it. I am not one of these people, but I've been to enough of their parties

[tuco]

Too bad nobody picked up the glove on " to get life". That would be very interesting debate imo. Like for example, to get life means to invest in market and live on benefits from it. Market! that is supposed to be .. real lol

[rachelbean]

Not sure I follow. "Get a life" has been part of popular vernacular for about 30 years, definitely before it had anything to do with online life. I think coined by valley girls to call someone boring: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Get_a_life_(idiom)

[Forty Two]

Assassin's Creed's player demographic is overwhelmingly male.

"Gaming" may be something enjoyed equally by men and women, but not all games are divided equally in terms of market.

Sexism remains in gaming for the same reason it remains in clothing and hairstyling. There is often a correlation between sex and a given market.

This is like complaining why Macy's doesn't sell cocktail dresses in the men's section.

[tuco]

Not sure about valley girls, but that is indeed subject to debate/interpretation what it means .. today especially when used on the internet and especially with regards to video games.

---

edit: as for my remark about (stock) market .. how is that real? the profits, the values, it creates. One could be rich one day and broken second day. Where/what is the real value? Money makes money .. lol .. people make money, people create values, and some take in more than others. That's about it.

[tuco]

Assassin's Creed's player demographic is overwhelmingly male.

"Gaming" may be something enjoyed equally by men and women, but not all games are divided equally in terms of market.

Sexism remains in gaming for the same reason it remains in clothing and hairstyling. There is often a correlation between sex and a given market.

This is like complaining why Macy's doesn't sell cocktail dresses in the men's section.

I agree that if market indicates that certain demographics is target group, it then make sense to accommodate such target group. Mr Gaider does recognize this notion. 30% of players of DA are women according to their data. At the same time, homosexuality and well sexuality (as well as sexism) is huge topic in society so its no surprise that it does reflect in virtual environment.

[Forty Two]

Why don't they write romance novels for men? Men are objectified on the covers.... what does this do to the way men are thought of and how they are valued in society in general? Remember, the more you think you're not affected by Romance Novels, the more likely it is that you are affected by them....

[Animavore]

Romance novels are tools of the patriarchy promoting submission of women to strong men. Don't be fooled.

[laklak]

I wish they'd stop using my picture on their covers.