European Parliament Calls For An End To Videogame Sexism

[Andy Chalk]

European Parliament Calls For An End To Videogame Sexism

The Parliament of the European Union [http://www.europarl.europa.eu/] has called for an end to sexism in videogames over concerns that such games are teaching children the wrong lessons.

Parliament adopted a text called "How Marketing and Advertising Affect Equality Between Men and Woman" on September 3, according to Edge Online [http://www.edge-online.com/news/eu-parliament-game-sexism-alarming], which said that while the report focused on conventional marketing, it also mentioned a "particular need" to eliminate sexism in videogames because of their impact on children. "Children learn by imitation and mimic what they have just experienced," the document said, adding that the presence of sexist messages in games "accentuates the perception that a person's gender dictates what is possible" in life.

While it would be tricky to deny that sexism exists in videogames, the basis of this argument seems to be the ongoing, and incorrect, assumption that videogames are for kids. Unless I'm missing something here, I don't think most age-appropriate videogames for impressionable young kids have a whole lot of sexism going on; the games I play might, but I'm pretty well set in my ways at this point. And while advertising is an obvious culprit, why were videogames centered out as the medium most desperately in need of a sexist house cleaning? Where do television, movies and music fit into this?

Fortunately, the adoption of the text is not legally binding, meaning the whole thing can be filed under "sound and fury signifying nothing more than uninformed political maneuvering." Unfortunately, it's also further evidence that despite the many advances made by videogaming in the cultural zeitgeist, there's still an awful lot of work left to be done.


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[The_root_of_all_evil]

So the Government is trying to make useless legislation to deal with an issue the public have known about for thirty odd years, and in doing so, exaggerates and blocks the real issue.

Nothing new there then.

 

[donbueck]

Yet another attempt to point the finger at anyone but parents. At the end of the day, it's the parents, not the church, government, friends, etc. that determine what a child should be exposed to. I fully understand parents cannot always control such things. On the other hand, I fully believe they can control a great deal of the media input into their own kids, if they choose to do so.

 

[Frybird]

Why's there an image of Max Payne 2's Mona Sax?

Although she's a bit "femme fatale"-ish, she's one of the least sexist characters i can think of (right before Alyx Vance, although it's a bit arkward how much she likes a mute guy who does not do much more than kill lots of aliens...)

 

[Danny Ocean]

So the Government is trying to make useless legislation to deal with an issue the public have known about for thirty odd years, and in doing so, exaggerates and blocks the real issue.

Nothing new there then.

It already cheeses me off how long our government takes to come to very obvious conclusions. It cheeses me off even more when they don't really do anything about it.

 

[HobbesMkii]

Kids games can be sexist. All the docile herbivores being female, or anthropomorphic female animals having exaggerated proportions.

 

[Blayze]

Tell you what, entertainment industry. I won't complain about you causing people to harp on about sexism in games, movies and on TV (By which they mean "ZOMG EXPLOITED WOMEN"), if you make male characters who aren't either Homer Simpson, camp, pussywhipped or arseholes.

Edited to include two more stereotypes. Can't think of others at the minute.

 

[sirdanrhodes]

Why is there a picture of Mona, she is what some feminist "wacko" would describe as independant and she kills more males than any of the unhelpful npc's *Looks at mike the cowboy*

 

[Joeshie]

And people say that American politicians are ignorant when it comes to video games...

 

[sniper9474]

To Put It Simply, They Might Aswell Try To Remove My Balls, As Its Just Wont Happen, As If Its Teaching The Wrong Lesson At An Age Where It Is Easy To Learn, they Could Just Hike Up Security On Selling Games To Underage Kids, As All Games With Sexism Are Usually A 15 Or Above.

 

[lijenstina]

Strange. I always though that politicians like people who are easy to manipulate, mold into brain dead zombies which will ,on the other side, ensure many happy years of ruling for them and their corruption scams.

Nevertheless, every parent who allows his children to make some real life attitudes from video games - must be check up by a specialist or, at least, join a political party (where blatant incompetence is almost always heavily rewarded).

 

[Andy Chalk]

It is extremely difficult to read your posts when you begin every word with a capital letter.

I referenced Mona specifically because she's one of the finest examples of a "non-sexist" representation of women (whatever that's actually supposed to mean) I've ever seen, not just in videogames but in any medium you care to name. Mona was Max's equal, and never once did she take a back seat to him in that regard, nor was she ever given the "not bad for a girl" treatment. I'm all for keeping chicks barefoot and pregnant, but I thought the portrayal of Mona was absolutely stellar and long overdue.

I don't know if the videogame industry is any better in its treatment of women than any other form of entertainment, but I sure as hell do know it's no worse. Centering it out for attention like this is absolutely unjustified.

 

[JBX06]

Oh What Will Happen To Duke Nukem!!!

 

[Andy Chalk]

Personally I want to see this headline follow: "Videogame industry calls for an end to Parliamentary sexism"

There's over 750 members of the EU Parliament, and about 50 are women.

 

[TheBadass]

Personally I want to see this headline follow: "Videogame industry calls for an end to Parliamentary sexism"

There's over 750 members of the EU Parliament, and about 50 are women.

I would laugh 'till I cry.

 

[Joeshie]

The problem is that while Hollywood has also created dozens of iconic pro-feminism characters, most gamers would struggle to think of 10 strong female characters out of thousands of games.

Think about how many male video game characters aren't simply reduced to grunt-grunt, "I like violence" caveman characterizations or are simply one-dimensional characters. Could you name many males who aren't like this?

Mario? He's just a one-dimensional plumber. Not a strong character at all.

Master Chief? He is reduced down to "HUR DURF I MUST KILL DA ALIENS". No depth at all.

Marcus Fenix? He is a perfect characterization of men as all being stupid cavemen.

How about those guys from Army of Two? Stereotypes all men as violent loving immature jerks.

Males get just as much unfair characterizations and sexism leveled their way in video games as females do.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

The problem is that while Hollywood has also created dozens of iconic pro-feminism characters, most gamers would struggle to think of 10 strong female characters out of thousands of games. You've got Alyx Vance, Mona Sax, Jade from Beyond Good and Evil, Bastila Shan... who else? Lara Croft sells more on sex appeal than anything else. Samus from Metroid is female, but she isn't exactly a paragon of anti-sexism. In fact, she isn't much of anything.

Tell you what Jeffers, you list 50 female movie stars (still alive), I'll list 50 female game stars(proactive) and Malagrys can name 50 real life females(famous for reasons other than looks) and we'll see who fails first? Sound fair?
Oh, and let's get Susan or Msch to name 50 male movie stars(famous for reasons other than their looks) to balance it out.

 

[SecretTacoNinja]

*MYAAAWWWN* Nothing new here, what games are they letting their kids play if it involves mistreatment of women anyway? Hmmm, they're not letting them play GTA are they? Parents need to tell their kids this stuff instead of letting them learn it through video games.
Me? I don't give a shit about sexism in games (being a girl myself), although I am looking forward to Mirror's Edge having a female protaganist for a change.