Feminism and Gaming

[John V]

Have you ever actually seen the customization screens for male an female characters? Is their a game in particular? Male/Female Barbs Diablo 3- pre Reaper of Souls, female orcs in WoW from several years ago (haven't played in a bit) What your character looks like is subjective. Once he/she is geared, not much of a difference. I haven't met too many women outraged at their video game caricatures!

My wife and daughter get ticked off about some of the female armor in DDO.

Also note that it's not all about outrage. The body image issue is about a constant bombardment in multiple media.

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The fact that as few men live up to ideal body image as women would suggest the fundamental cause of women being made to feel insecure about their bodies in our society is not the idealized-body-type itself, but the failure to inculcate the appropriate "fuck that" attitude amongst women.

Is it a failure to embrace that attitude, or a general inability to adopt that attitude?

OP gave men a pass for their attitudes toward sex, saying that just how it is, and people who don't like it should get over it.

My main point is that if men get this pass, women should as well.

Or, if you expect women to change their basic tendencies, then you should expect the same of men.

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In real life, women are made to feel insecure about their bodies.

This is fantasy. What she draws is fantasy. We both know the difference between fantasy and real life.

Why are you having trouble grasping the distinction?

Because media images occur in real life. Women are constantly being bombarded with images that subliminally say this is what you should look like, and it can hurt the self esteem of those who don't live up to that standard, which is most of them.

One can play a game without looking at beautiful women.

BINGO! Since it isn't necessary to reinforce these body image stereotypes in games, let's just stop doing it.

And what you keep missing is that fantasy shouldn't contribute to anyone's self-image problems. Know why? Because it's fantasy.

And what you're missing is that it's not your place to tell women what should or should not contribute to their self image problems.

What's there is
Celebacy = What you should do
Marriage = OK, if you can't control yourself, that's second best.

Yes, and? You've already backed well off your initial assertion that sex is only for procreation, so I guess you're making progress.