Electronic Arts VP Says Sexism Complaints Are "Misguided"

[rbstewart7263]

I think there is some truth to this. From what I can tell, there aren't really too many women on game design courses or in game studios, just from personal choice. That said, sexism in the industry and the community is still an issue, and we do need to talk about it and try to weed it out.

I think that she has a point though because when you look at actual sexism its mostly just the cod crowd and when you compare that to the rest of us I feel its safe to say that most of us want more women. Hell the fact that everyone here is still having 24 page arguements on the matter is a case in point.

Also Sexism is kind of strong word when the worst offenses we tend to have are tits and one dimensional characters which is a bit too lazy in my book to count.(Just as many or more one dimensional male characters) Id say that laziness, pandering to certain demographics, and a trouble with writing women characters well when your a man are probably the main culprits none of which is defined as sexism to me.

I also think that these one dimensional characters are a biproduct of the medium where gameplay is first and characterization is often second. Add into that the view that the gaming hordes are all bad( I think this site is testament to the latter) and there you have the view that gamers are sexist pigs.(some certainly are though I wont argue that)

And sexism in videogames in my book is an active philosophy that women are less than you being intentionally expressed through videogames. Like when that one female boss in megaman took more hits per shot than any other megaman boss. That one counted in my mind. It takes more than a male expressing his natural desire through an interactive medium for me to cry sexism and all those isms.

All the complaints about tits seem to miss the point in my book. The fact that people like the girl who created skullgirls understands this too gives me confidence that my view is not ignorance.

Anywho feel free to disagree Im in no real mood to discuss. lmao

 

[rbstewart7263]

I think there is some truth to this. From what I can tell, there aren't really too many women on game design courses or in game studios, just from personal choice. That said, sexism in the industry and the community is still an issue, and we do need to talk about it and try to weed it out.

On the flipside, there are fewer women in general in technical fields and women tend to perform worse at math and science.

We can believe that women just aren't good at math and science and the like, or look to external issues.

So yeah, there may be a grain of truth, but I think it's coated in a big wad of something else.

Keep in mind that testosterone/estrogen may cause brains to work differently based on how much is present. Some stereotypes exist for a reason.

(I'm not saying which ones because I don't presume to know which are accurate, so don't feel the need to viciously attack me for being open to unpopular possibilities.)

I've actually heard that genders remember things differently, things like shape and color as opposed to weather or not it was a threat. But the truth is you can't be sure how much of their behavior is due to preconceptions in society. Like you were saying about having only one woman in your engineering class: You could be the most welcoming profession in the world, but that doesn't change the fact that women simply aren't expected or encouraged to become engineers. Same goes for male nursing, and it's not as though there isn't still some stigma for those who try to go against gender roles.

The issue wouldn't sexism in an specific industry, it's sexism in general.

In that case, I don't see why the industry is expected to fix it if it's a society issue.

You're surprised videogames are being used as a scapegoat?

Its generally known that the environment is the higher determinant but that nature plays a big part too depending on who you are. A study shown that in regard to spatial manipulation.(that thing that allows you to move your body and head at the same time in a fps) Men tend to be better than women. However enough time behind a controller allowed women to equal out in this regard. This might explain why drones of women tend to flock to story based games like mass effect rather than cod but one can really only speculate and question. As to whether its the vagina or the enviroment that these women are being brought up in that makes there spatial manipulation tend toward being less is unknown to me.

Id like to point out that there are things that women tend to be better at than men. you know just to balance out the whole table rather than focus on that one thing.

I mean....WOMENZ JUST AS GOOD AS TEH MENZ AT HALOZ!!!!! lol jk I know.

 

[BreakfastMan]

I think there is some truth to this. From what I can tell, there aren't really too many women on game design courses or in game studios, just from personal choice. That said, sexism in the industry and the community is still an issue, and we do need to talk about it and try to weed it out.

On the flipside, there are fewer women in general in technical fields and women tend to perform worse at math and science.

We can believe that women just aren't good at math and science and the like, or look to external issues.

So yeah, there may be a grain of truth, but I think it's coated in a big wad of something else.

Keep in mind that testosterone/estrogen may cause brains to work differently based on how much is present. Some stereotypes exist for a reason.

(I'm not saying which ones because I don't presume to know which are accurate, so don't feel the need to viciously attack me for being open to unpopular possibilities.)

I've actually heard that genders remember things differently, things like shape and color as opposed to weather or not it was a threat. But the truth is you can't be sure how much of their behavior is due to preconceptions in society. Like you were saying about having only one woman in your engineering class: You could be the most welcoming profession in the world, but that doesn't change the fact that women simply aren't expected or encouraged to become engineers. Same goes for male nursing, and it's not as though there isn't still some stigma for those who try to go against gender roles.

The issue wouldn't sexism in an specific industry, it's sexism in general.

In that case, I don't see why the industry is expected to fix it if it's a society issue.

I dunno, it might be that some people want the industry to be a leader in this regard, and show society the way to go. You might not be responsible for a problem, but you can sure as hell help to solve it. :\

 

[bananafishtoday]

I find it depressing that this opinion is only considered valid because it was a woman who has it. When earlier sentiments have been expressed by men they have been shot down, ignored or simply mocked.

To be fair, it's an issue where a woman's opinion carries far more weight than a man's. A woman can speak far more authoritatively on whether a workplace is hostile to women, because she's speaking from first-hand experience.

That isn't to say a man's opinion should be ignored or ridiculed, but it can be hard to tell whether he has any idea what he's talking about, especially since men by and large don't experience sexism at all.

Just because one doesn't have something happen to them directly does not mean they can not observe something happening or, in this case, not happening and comment on that.

It is just ironic that it takes sexism to clarify that no sexism is taking place in a particular industry.

I didn't say men couldn't comment on the topic. I said women's comments are more valuable in this context, because this is something only women have to deal with. If I wanted to know about baking, I'd trust a baker more than I'd trust a bakery observer.

If an industry is dominated by a gender due to what the industry produces being marketed and consumed primarily (in currency figures, not capita) by that gender should we really complain when said gender is the dominant demographic? There doesn't need to be a 50/50 spilt everywhere - it honestly isn't worth the time, effort, resources, and interference in the industry to encourage or force such a situation. As long as there are no industry erected barriers to entry for either gender the situation should be ignored - something that is true in the video game industry, the nursing industry, accountancy, biology, chemistry, teaching? and so forth.

I don't think it should be forced, but I do think it should be encouraged.

If one believes that games should be first and foremost a business, then yeah, who the hell cares, maximize profit and don't rock the boat. But if one believes, as I do, that games should be first and foremost an artistic medium, it's crucial to have a diversity of voices working in the medium.

 

[Phisi]

I suggest that people watch the first episode of "Brainwashing Norway" It is about how as a society becomes more equal in opportunity the gender divides in industries become more pronounced. That is if you feel like reading a lot of subtitles but it is very good.

 

[Abomination]

Just because one doesn't have something happen to them directly does not mean they can not observe something happening or, in this case, not happening and comment on that.

It is just ironic that it takes sexism to clarify that no sexism is taking place in a particular industry.

I didn't say men couldn't comment on the topic. I said women's comments are more valuable in this context, because this is something only women have to deal with. If I wanted to know about baking, I'd trust a baker more than I'd trust a bakery observer.

I didn't know being a woman was a "profession". But being in the video game industry certainly is one.

If an industry is dominated by a gender due to what the industry produces being marketed and consumed primarily (in currency figures, not capita) by that gender should we really complain when said gender is the dominant demographic? There doesn't need to be a 50/50 spilt everywhere - it honestly isn't worth the time, effort, resources, and interference in the industry to encourage or force such a situation. As long as there are no industry erected barriers to entry for either gender the situation should be ignored - something that is true in the video game industry, the nursing industry, accountancy, biology, chemistry, teaching? and so forth.

I don't think it should be forced, but I do think it should be encouraged.

If one believes that games should be first and foremost a business, then yeah, who the hell cares, maximize profit and don't rock the boat. But if one believes, as I do, that games should be first and foremost an artistic medium, it's crucial to have a diversity of voices working in the medium.

But how do you encourage it? If it really is art then it should occur organically without outside interference or urging. We are talking about a profession here and encouraging women into a profession will cost money - either by advertising or (heaven forbid) gender specific scholarships - money that doesn't need to be spent since if women want to design games they CAN design games.

 

[Darken12]

I think many... many of the slip ups that happen are a case of just not thinking things through and the lack of a substantial female perspective in the industry as a whole. That is an effect of things, not a cause however. I'll admit the riptide thing as really gross, and unappealing (sexist? ehh maybe... it's just really fucking gross man does have to be anything more then that.) but that doesn't make chain mail bikinis or scantily clad women BAD, it just means you have to take it for what it is. Hell some of my favorite deviant art artists(all women), do a lot of scantily clad women drawings just because that's what they like to draw. It's there thing, they're good at it. They don't see putting the female form on a pedestal of idealism as something bad. Sexism is when that is the ONLY option or a forced option in which it is the ONLY way a female can succeed. I agree with the sentiment that it's still not where it needs to be, it's far from where it needs to be but that stuff existing is not inherently bad/sexist/evil.

I have nothing against fanservice, but it's the lack of egalitarian fanservice that hints at sexism. Why wasn't that torso something like this [http://hellosixpackabs.com/web_images/absdiet.jpg] too? I mean, the intent of the torso is a horribly misguided idea to marry gore with fanservice (which only works for a minority of the population), but the idea that only female bodies are worth of objectification (regardless how horribly botched such objectification ends up being) means that, at the very nicest, the industry thinks only straight males play their games. Which isn't inherently sexist or homophobic, but misguided. When they know that such an assertion is false but insist on the traditional approach, it borders sexism and homophobia but can still be justified as the demographics not being commercially viable. When such demographics become commercially viable, any decision not to cater to them out of prejudice really does become sexist and homophobic.

*snip*

I'm going to do a retrospective from 2010 to 2012, using these three articles:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_in_video_gaming
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_in_video_gaming
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_in_video_gaming

And linking images to illustrate my point. 2010 gave us:

Bayonetta [http://www.gametrailers.com/side-mission/files/2012/09/bayonetta.jpg], Silent Hill: Shattered Memories [http://www.secondquest.vg/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Silent.jpg], No More Heroes 2 [http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01649/no-more-heroes2_1649165c.jpg], Dante's Inferno [http://oyster.ignimgs.com/ve3d/images/05/17/51737_orig.jpg], Heavy Rain [http://www.consolesyndrome.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/heavy-rain-playstation-3-ps3-197.jpg], God of War III [http://images.lazygamer.co.za/2010/03/Gow3Athena.jpg], Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening [http://www.gamershell.com/static/streaming/24502/24502_medium.jpg], Mass Effect 2 [http://www.gamervescent.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Rana-Samara-by-Soulfire.jpg], Red Steel 2 [http://asherald.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/redsteel2.jpg], Dead or Alive Paradise [http://www.lordx.org/wp-content/dead-or-alive-paradise-psp-bikini-3.jpg], Super Street Fighter IV [http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/11/e5b317d942f84c8712d92ade74f8eab8.jpg], Red Dead Redemption [http://www.hdwallpapers.in/walls/red_dead_redemption_game-normal.jpg], Heroes [http://trolr.com/wp-content/gallery/heroes-of-newerth-concept-art/ophelia.jpg] of Newerth [http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/6559/honchickbs.jpg] (here's your revealing fantasy armour/chainmail bikini, merely 3 years ago, by a Western developer), Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty [http://pikigeek.com/files/2011/10/Kerrigan.jpg], Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light [http://img.brothersoft.com/screenshots/softimage/l/lara_croft_and_the_guardian_of_light-_e3_2010_trailer_hd-381669-1279701280.jpeg], Mafia II [http://www.pcgameshardware.com/screenshots/original/2009/01/Mafia2ScreenShot033_090122131239.jpg], Enslaved: Odyssey to the West [http://www.juegomania.org/Enslaved%3A+Odyssey+to+the+West/foto/ps3/0/770/891436.jpg/Foto+Enslaved%3A+Odyssey+to+the+West.jpg], God of War: Ghost of Sparta [http://origin.playstationlifestyle.net/assets/uploads/2010/09/God-of-War-censored.jpg] and World of Warcraft: Cataclysm [http://img1.mmo.mmo4arab.com/news/2010/05/20/femaleworgen/femaleworgen1.jpg] (which has always had bikini chainmail [http://www.wowautoauctions.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/wow-art-night-elf-female.jpg] and never changed that fact).

2011 gave us:

Two Worlds II [http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_KglbSoW83Wg/TVAMYPH9EFI/AAAAAAAABVE/M1D6Z-DGy2U/s1600/TwoWorlds2%2B2011-02-06%2B15-15-26-23.jpg] (more stripperrific fantasy armour), Dragon Age II [http://hautegamer.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Dragon_Age_II_-_Isabella_-_Clown_Tits.jpg], Yakuza 4 [http://www.segabits.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/yakuza4.jpg], The Tomb Raider Trilogy [http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2011/034/4/1/tomb_raider_trilogy_wallpaper_by_teenraider-d38otnl.jpg], The Third Birthday [http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2012/01/xlarge_2d9bc1bd39cc9a8fba3db93030e0a8b1.jpg] (though I admit the cleavage is pretty tame), Dynasty Warriors 7 [http://assets.vg247.com/current//2010/10/dynasty-warriors-7-20.jpg], Brink (found an uncensored image that I cannot link), The Witcher 2: Assassin of Kings [http://gameshut.org/sites/default/files/the-witcher-2-assassinsofkings_87711-1920x1200.jpg], Duke Nukem Forever [http://www.geforce.co.uk/Active/en_US/shared/images/xml_graphics/duke-nukem-forever/featuredImage-dnf.jpg] (I am using the absolute tamest image that conveys my point), Hunted: The Demon's Forge [http://media.pcgamer.com/files/2010/08/hunted-preorder-griffin.jpg], Call of Juarez: The Cartel [http://i1-news.softpedia-static.com/images/news2/Call-of-Juarez-The-Cartel-Gets-First-Details-Screenshots-and-Video-5.jpg], Shadows of the Damned [http://images.gamersyde.com/image_shadows_of_the_damned-16209-2129_0006.jpg], Catherine [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/20/Catherine_Cover_Art.png], No More Heroes: Heroes' Paradise [http://www.hookedgamers.com/images/1290/no_more_heroes_heroes_paradise/screenshot_x360_no_more_heroes_heroes_paradise026.jpg], Dead Island [http://i13a.3djuegos.com/juegos/1642/dead_island/fotos/set/dead_island-1732184.jpg], Rise of Nightmares [http://download.xbox.com/content/images/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80253450846/1033/screenlg14.jpg], Gears of War 3 [http://www.hdwallpapers.in/walls/gears_of_war_3_game_2011-wide.jpg] (though that's pretty tame), Dark Souls [http://www.cheatcc.com/imagesfeatures/top10sexiestfemalevillainsingaming_9.jpg], Batman: Arkham City [http://download.xbox.com/content/images/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80257520802/1033/screenlg1.jpg], House of the Dead: Overkill [http://img.brothersoft.com/wallpapers/ho/ll/screenshots/varla-guns_wide.jpg] (there are a couple of images that are even worse), Saints Row: The Third [http://cdn2.dualshockers.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/saints-row-the-third-hd-wallpapers-1.jpg] and The King of Fighters XIII [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/2f/Kofxiiips3.jpg/250px-Kofxiiips3.jpg].

And 2012 brought us:

NeverDead [http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/0/5911/1470159-neverdead_image_for_gamesco.jpg], Amy [http://richardjohnsmith.cghub.com/files/Image/149001-150000/149321/766_stream.jpg], Soulcalibur V [http://www.sidekickcomicsuk.com/blogs/media/users/ned/soul_calibur_v_comparison.JPG], Resident Evil: Revelations [http://images.pushsquare.com/news/2013/01/it_looks_like_resident_evil_revelations_is_coming_to_the_ps3/attachment/0/large.jpg], Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning [http://www.gameverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Side-kick.jpg], The Darkness II [http://bulk.destructoid.com/ul/213431-you-should-be-paying-attention-to-the-darkness-ii/DarknessII_Venus_Gun-620x.jpg], Shank 2 [http://th06.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/i/2012/122/a/7/shank_2_bubbles_wallpaper_by_cywin-d4yd0s7.jpg], Mass Effect 3 [http://wallpaperscraft.com/image/mass_effect_3_asari_female_dress_house_15923_1600x1200.jpg], Street Fighter X Tekken [http://mimg.ugo.com/201203/8/1/3/219318/sfxt2.jpg], I Am Alive [http://webguyunlimited.com/pixelperfectgaming/wp-content/gallery/i_am_alive_new_launch_screenshots/i_am_alive_new_launch_screenshot_023.jpg], Ninja Gaiden 3 [http://images.vg247.com/current//2012/12/Ninja-Gaiden-3-kasumi-5.jpg], Risen 2: Dark Waters [http://cdn.gamerant.com/wp-content/uploads/risen-2-dark-waters-review-voodoo.jpg], Diablo III [http://www.diablo3sanctuary.net/Diablo-3-Wallpapers/Diablo-3-Wallpaper-Wizard-Sorceress-WideScreen-1920x1200-1920x1080.jpg], Max Payne 3 [http://gamechurch.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/max-payne-3.jpg], Lollipop Chainsaw [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/39/Lollipop_Chainsaw_Cover_Art.png], Heroes of Ruin [http://images.nintendolife.com/news/2012/04/heroes_of_ruin_alchitect_trailer_is_3ds_gold/attachment/0/large.jpg], Sleeping Dogs [http://0.tqn.com/d/playstation/1/0/Z/J/SleepingDogs_06.jpg], Darksiders II [http://www.nerdist.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Darksiders_II_OnlineReview_Lilith.jpg], Guild Wars 2 [http://3.images.gametrailers.com/image_root/massives/aaa_games/2012/08_aug_2012/m_guildwars2_01.jpg?width=640&height=360&crop=true&quality=.91], World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria [http://www.blogcdn.com/wow.joystiq.com/media/2012/06/newjainarlt.jpg], Torchlight II [http://gamescreens.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/female-embermage-torchlight-2-wallpaper.jpg], Resident Evil 6 [http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mav4gkXNYf1rxj7rdo1_500.png], Hotline Miami [http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/images/2012/10/hmart.jpg], Halo 4 [http://assets2.ignimgs.com/2012/11/02/110612cortana-socialjpg-5a7ab2_800w.jpg], Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge [http://www.cinemablend.com/images/gallery/s46850/Ninja_Gaiden_3__Razor_s_Edge_13475046997461.jpg], Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 [http://cache.g4tv.com/ImageDb3/298132_S/call-of-duty-black-ops-2-zombie-mode-poster-revealed.jpg] and Tekken Tag Tournament 2 [http://86bb71d19d3bcb79effc-d9e6924a0395cb1b5b9f03b7640d26eb.r91.cf1.rackcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/tekken-tag-tournament-2-characters-unlockable-via-dlc.jpg].

And before anybody says anything, I urge you all to watch the latest episode of the Jimquisition [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/jimquisition/6734-Accepting-the-Isms], which addresses the proper way to respond when a game you like contains sexism/homophobia/racism and the like.

 

[lacktheknack]

*snip*

I'm going to do a retrospective from 2010 to 2012, using these three articles:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_in_video_gaming
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_in_video_gaming
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_in_video_gaming

And linking images to illustrate my point. 2010 gave us:

Bayonetta [http://www.gametrailers.com/side-mission/files/2012/09/bayonetta.jpg], Silent Hill: Shattered Memories [http://www.secondquest.vg/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Silent.jpg], No More Heroes 2 [http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01649/no-more-heroes2_1649165c.jpg], Dante's Inferno [http://oyster.ignimgs.com/ve3d/images/05/17/51737_orig.jpg], Heavy Rain [http://www.consolesyndrome.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/heavy-rain-playstation-3-ps3-197.jpg], God of War III [http://images.lazygamer.co.za/2010/03/Gow3Athena.jpg], Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening [http://www.gamershell.com/static/streaming/24502/24502_medium.jpg], Mass Effect 2 [http://www.gamervescent.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Rana-Samara-by-Soulfire.jpg], Red Steel 2 [http://asherald.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/redsteel2.jpg], Dead or Alive Paradise [http://www.lordx.org/wp-content/dead-or-alive-paradise-psp-bikini-3.jpg], Super Street Fighter IV [http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/11/e5b317d942f84c8712d92ade74f8eab8.jpg], Red Dead Redemption [http://www.hdwallpapers.in/walls/red_dead_redemption_game-normal.jpg], Heroes [http://trolr.com/wp-content/gallery/heroes-of-newerth-concept-art/ophelia.jpg] of Newerth [http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/6559/honchickbs.jpg] (here's your revealing fantasy armour/chainmail bikini, merely 3 years ago, by a Western developer), Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty [http://pikigeek.com/files/2011/10/Kerrigan.jpg], Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light [http://img.brothersoft.com/screenshots/softimage/l/lara_croft_and_the_guardian_of_light-_e3_2010_trailer_hd-381669-1279701280.jpeg], Mafia II [http://www.pcgameshardware.com/screenshots/original/2009/01/Mafia2ScreenShot033_090122131239.jpg], Enslaved: Odyssey to the West [http://www.juegomania.org/Enslaved%3A+Odyssey+to+the+West/foto/ps3/0/770/891436.jpg/Foto+Enslaved%3A+Odyssey+to+the+West.jpg], God of War: Ghost of Sparta [http://origin.playstationlifestyle.net/assets/uploads/2010/09/God-of-War-censored.jpg] and World of Warcraft: Cataclysm [http://img1.mmo.mmo4arab.com/news/2010/05/20/femaleworgen/femaleworgen1.jpg] (which has always had bikini chainmail [http://www.wowautoauctions.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/wow-art-night-elf-female.jpg] and never changed that fact).

2011 gave us:

Two Worlds II [http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_KglbSoW83Wg/TVAMYPH9EFI/AAAAAAAABVE/M1D6Z-DGy2U/s1600/TwoWorlds2%2B2011-02-06%2B15-15-26-23.jpg] (more stripperrific fantasy armour), Dragon Age II [http://hautegamer.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Dragon_Age_II_-_Isabella_-_Clown_Tits.jpg], Yakuza 4 [http://www.segabits.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/yakuza4.jpg], The Tomb Raider Trilogy [http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2011/034/4/1/tomb_raider_trilogy_wallpaper_by_teenraider-d38otnl.jpg], The Third Birthday [http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2012/01/xlarge_2d9bc1bd39cc9a8fba3db93030e0a8b1.jpg] (though I admit the cleavage is pretty tame), Dynasty Warriors 7 [http://assets.vg247.com/current//2010/10/dynasty-warriors-7-20.jpg], Brink (found an uncensored image that I cannot link), The Witcher 2: Assassin of Kings [http://gameshut.org/sites/default/files/the-witcher-2-assassinsofkings_87711-1920x1200.jpg], Duke Nukem Forever [http://www.geforce.co.uk/Active/en_US/shared/images/xml_graphics/duke-nukem-forever/featuredImage-dnf.jpg] (I am using the absolute tamest image that conveys my point), Hunted: The Demon's Forge [http://media.pcgamer.com/files/2010/08/hunted-preorder-griffin.jpg], Call of Juarez: The Cartel [http://i1-news.softpedia-static.com/images/news2/Call-of-Juarez-The-Cartel-Gets-First-Details-Screenshots-and-Video-5.jpg], Shadows of the Damned [http://images.gamersyde.com/image_shadows_of_the_damned-16209-2129_0006.jpg], Catherine [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/20/Catherine_Cover_Art.png], No More Heroes: Heroes' Paradise [http://www.hookedgamers.com/images/1290/no_more_heroes_heroes_paradise/screenshot_x360_no_more_heroes_heroes_paradise026.jpg], Dead Island [http://i13a.3djuegos.com/juegos/1642/dead_island/fotos/set/dead_island-1732184.jpg], Rise of Nightmares [http://download.xbox.com/content/images/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80253450846/1033/screenlg14.jpg], Gears of War 3 [http://www.hdwallpapers.in/walls/gears_of_war_3_game_2011-wide.jpg] (though that's pretty tame), Dark Souls [http://www.cheatcc.com/imagesfeatures/top10sexiestfemalevillainsingaming_9.jpg], Batman: Arkham City [http://download.xbox.com/content/images/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80257520802/1033/screenlg1.jpg], House of the Dead: Overkill [http://img.brothersoft.com/wallpapers/ho/ll/screenshots/varla-guns_wide.jpg] (there are a couple of images that are even worse), Saints Row: The Third [http://cdn2.dualshockers.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/saints-row-the-third-hd-wallpapers-1.jpg] and The King of Fighters XIII [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/2f/Kofxiiips3.jpg/250px-Kofxiiips3.jpg].

And 2012 brought us:

NeverDead [http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/0/5911/1470159-neverdead_image_for_gamesco.jpg], Amy [http://richardjohnsmith.cghub.com/files/Image/149001-150000/149321/766_stream.jpg], Soulcalibur V [http://www.sidekickcomicsuk.com/blogs/media/users/ned/soul_calibur_v_comparison.JPG], Resident Evil: Revelations [http://images.pushsquare.com/news/2013/01/it_looks_like_resident_evil_revelations_is_coming_to_the_ps3/attachment/0/large.jpg], Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning [http://www.gameverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Side-kick.jpg], The Darkness II [http://bulk.destructoid.com/ul/213431-you-should-be-paying-attention-to-the-darkness-ii/DarknessII_Venus_Gun-620x.jpg], Shank 2 [http://th06.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/i/2012/122/a/7/shank_2_bubbles_wallpaper_by_cywin-d4yd0s7.jpg], Mass Effect 3 [http://wallpaperscraft.com/image/mass_effect_3_asari_female_dress_house_15923_1600x1200.jpg], Street Fighter X Tekken [http://mimg.ugo.com/201203/8/1/3/219318/sfxt2.jpg], I Am Alive [http://webguyunlimited.com/pixelperfectgaming/wp-content/gallery/i_am_alive_new_launch_screenshots/i_am_alive_new_launch_screenshot_023.jpg], Ninja Gaiden 3 [http://images.vg247.com/current//2012/12/Ninja-Gaiden-3-kasumi-5.jpg], Risen 2: Dark Waters [http://cdn.gamerant.com/wp-content/uploads/risen-2-dark-waters-review-voodoo.jpg], Diablo III [http://www.diablo3sanctuary.net/Diablo-3-Wallpapers/Diablo-3-Wallpaper-Wizard-Sorceress-WideScreen-1920x1200-1920x1080.jpg], Max Payne 3 [http://gamechurch.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/max-payne-3.jpg], Lollipop Chainsaw [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/39/Lollipop_Chainsaw_Cover_Art.png], Heroes of Ruin [http://images.nintendolife.com/news/2012/04/heroes_of_ruin_alchitect_trailer_is_3ds_gold/attachment/0/large.jpg], Sleeping Dogs [http://0.tqn.com/d/playstation/1/0/Z/J/SleepingDogs_06.jpg], Darksiders II [http://www.nerdist.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Darksiders_II_OnlineReview_Lilith.jpg], Guild Wars 2 [http://3.images.gametrailers.com/image_root/massives/aaa_games/2012/08_aug_2012/m_guildwars2_01.jpg?width=640&height=360&crop=true&quality=.91], World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria [http://www.blogcdn.com/wow.joystiq.com/media/2012/06/newjainarlt.jpg], Torchlight II [http://gamescreens.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/female-embermage-torchlight-2-wallpaper.jpg], Resident Evil 6 [http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mav4gkXNYf1rxj7rdo1_500.png], Hotline Miami [http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/images/2012/10/hmart.jpg], Halo 4 [http://assets2.ignimgs.com/2012/11/02/110612cortana-socialjpg-5a7ab2_800w.jpg], Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge [http://www.cinemablend.com/images/gallery/s46850/Ninja_Gaiden_3__Razor_s_Edge_13475046997461.jpg], Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 [http://cache.g4tv.com/ImageDb3/298132_S/call-of-duty-black-ops-2-zombie-mode-poster-revealed.jpg] and Tekken Tag Tournament 2 [http://86bb71d19d3bcb79effc-d9e6924a0395cb1b5b9f03b7640d26eb.r91.cf1.rackcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/tekken-tag-tournament-2-characters-unlockable-via-dlc.jpg].

And before anybody says anything, I urge you all to watch the latest episode of the Jimquisition [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/jimquisition/6734-Accepting-the-Isms], which addresses the proper way to respond when a game you like contains sexism/homophobia/racism and the like.

You seem to have mistaken "Boobs Exist" with "I think women are of less value than men".

The Saints Row: The Third example, for instance, was a derp on my part... and yours. Shaundi is not a sexist portrayal, unless you're going to tell me that being aggressive and having boobs are incompatible. A better example would be mentioning every single female gang member wearing slinky getup (almost true), or the strippers in the hideouts.

Mentioning Catwoman, however, is entirely missing the point. As in, firing in entirely the wrong direction. Same with Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, Bayonetta, and even Lara Croft.

My original point was the lack of "stereotypical secondary chunk of meat", the vast majority of your examples are anything but. I admit there are examples in there I didn't think of (How did I forget Duke Nukem?) but the majority of your list was compiled with entirely the wrong idea in mind.

Also, I dislike Jimquisition and disagree with much of what he says. This week is included.

 

[joshthor]

This is incredibly obvious to everyone who isnt a game journalist. why? because they took writing classes. In my programming classes (i took 6 before i quit) the averages was about 1 woman for every 5 men. in my 3d animation program, there were only 2 women in a class of 32. sexism would have a solid argument if this was not normal

 

[Darken12]

You seem to have mistaken "Boobs Exist" with "I think women are of less value than men".

And you missed my point completely. You know what all those boobs have in common? They're on display. Most of those games involve violence or running/climbing/sliding around, and the presence of cleavage, bared midriffs, arms and legs are extremely impractical, and practically no woman in their situation would walk around with so much skin showing (as layers of clothing could prevent scrapes, friction burns, cuts and abrasions). In fantasy games, those women either need to wear proper plate like the men do, or (if they aren't armoured warriors) they should be wearing standard mage robes (that cover her from neck to toe without exposing her skin to cold weather or the rough and tumble of adventuring) or proper leather armour (again, like the one the males wear). There is a reason that women (and men), IRL, when they are involved in extreme sports, wear outfits that cover them practically from head to toe. Stripperrific outfits are impractical, uncomfortable, they can very well hinder movement, and serve no purpose but to titillate the male gaze.

The Saints Row: The Third example, for instance, was a derp on my part... and yours. Shaundi is not a sexist portrayal, unless you're going to tell me that being aggressive and having boobs are incompatible. A better example would be mentioning every single female gang member wearing slinky getup (almost true), or the strippers in the hideouts.

It's not having boobs. It's the unnecessary cleavage. But if you think it proves my point better, go with the gang members or the strippers.

Mentioning Catwoman, however, is entirely missing the point. As in, firing in entirely the wrong direction. Same with Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, Bayonetta, and even Lara Croft.

Right, because Catwoman's zipper needs to be that far down, Cybill needs to walk around with a cleavage that would get her fired if she was an actual police officer, Bayonetta needs to be wearing that skin-tight catsuit (again, with cleavage) and put herself in suggestive poses, and Lara Croft cannot possibly wear anything like Nathan Drake (who does more or less what she does, and in similar climates).

My original point was the lack of "stereotypical secondary chunk of meat", the vast majority of your examples are anything but. I admit there are examples in there I didn't think of (How did I forget Duke Nukem?) but the majority of your list was compiled with entirely the wrong idea in mind.

So you're emphasising the "secondary" part, then? Because that's usually a different kettle of fish. Alan Wake's wife, for example, is more or less a plot device that motivates him. Furthermore, I can save myself a lot of quoting and copypasting by just linking you to TV Tropes in The Smurfette Principle [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheSmurfettePrinciple]. I usually try to stay away from TV Tropes out of distaste, but occasionally it proves useful as a compiler of lists.

Furthermore, take any game with a male main character and see if the women in the game are three-dimensional, fully realised characters that have the same depth and vibrancy as the main character or if they're just two-dimensional carboard cutouts meant to titillate, provide the hero's motivation or progress the plot.

I will also link to this article, What Women Want In Female Video Game Protagonists [http://www.themarysue.com/what-women-want-in-female-video-game-protagonists/], which highlights some of the issues I've touched ("If I?m a soldier, I want to look like the rest of my squad. If I?m escaping a zombie apocalypse, I want shoes I can run in and clothes that minimize the likelihood of getting bitten. If I?m a warrior of song and legend, I want a set of plate mail that will silence a room when I walk in. None of these things require a trade-off of my sexuality or femininity." and "And if she?s in an outfit that says ?sexy? while all her male counterparts are in outfits that say ?powerful,? that?s a red flag ? especially if she?s the only woman there." and "honestly, how many more gruff, emotionless dudes with dead wives/girlfriends do we need?").

Also, I dislike Jimquisition and disagree with much of what he says. This week is included.

So you support the idea of censoring any possible discussion of an -ism in a videogame? Of reacting violently whenever someone raises what could be a valid point (or not) instead of allowing a calm discussion to take place? Because what he's saying is quite sensible.

 

[Gethsemani_v1legacy]

Keep in mind that testosterone/estrogen may cause brains to work differently based on how much is present. Some stereotypes exist for a reason.

(I'm not saying which ones because I don't presume to know which are accurate, so don't feel the need to viciously attack me for being open to unpopular possibilities.)

Also keep in mind that studies have shown that male college students performed better at mathematical tests and female students performed worse if they are reminded of their gender right before taking the test. Likewise, both groups performed better if they were told their school usually had high scores on a test and performed worse if they were told their school usually had low scores on the test. You can read more about this in Delusions of Gender (Fine, 2011).

Basically, the conclusion is that we internalize what we perceive to be external expectations of ourselves and these expectations influence how well we do certain things. This can be something as simple as women not getting into math or performing well at math because "it is a man's field" or men finding themselves dumbfounded when supposed to take care of a baby or have a sensitive conversation about a friend's break-up.

Women not getting into gaming is kind of like men not getting into nursing. All my male colleagues can relate a story about how they've been either implied to be gay or have been asked outright, simply because they work as RNs. And considering the kind of treatment Felicia Day got last year (being compared to a booth babe by a journalist and having loads of gamer step up to his defense), are we really surprised many women stay out of gaming?

 

[lacktheknack]

You seem to have mistaken "Boobs Exist" with "I think women are of less value than men".

And you missed my point completely. You know what all those boobs have in common? They're on display. Most of those games involve violence or running/climbing/sliding around, and the presence of cleavage, bared midriffs, arms and legs are extremely impractical, and practically no woman in their situation would walk around with so much skin showing (as layers of clothing could prevent scrapes, friction burns, cuts and abrasions). In fantasy games, those women either need to wear proper plate like the men do, or (if they aren't armoured warriors) they should be wearing standard mage robes (that cover her from neck to toe without exposing her skin to cold weather or the rough and tumble of adventuring) or proper leather armour (again, like the one the males wear). There is a reason that women (and men), IRL, when they are involved in extreme sports, wear outfits that cover them practically from head to toe. Stripperrific outfits are impractical, uncomfortable, they can very well hinder movement, and serve no purpose but to titillate the male gaze.

The Saints Row: The Third example, for instance, was a derp on my part... and yours. Shaundi is not a sexist portrayal, unless you're going to tell me that being aggressive and having boobs are incompatible. A better example would be mentioning every single female gang member wearing slinky getup (almost true), or the strippers in the hideouts.

It's not having boobs. It's the unnecessary cleavage. But if you think it proves my point better, go with the gang members or the strippers.

Mentioning Catwoman, however, is entirely missing the point. As in, firing in entirely the wrong direction. Same with Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, Bayonetta, and even Lara Croft.

Right, because Catwoman's zipper needs to be that far down, Cybill needs to walk around with a cleavage that would get her fired if she was an actual police officer, Bayonetta needs to be wearing that skin-tight catsuit (again, with cleavage) and put herself in suggestive poses, and Lara Croft cannot possibly wear anything like Nathan Drake (who does more or less what she does, and in similar climates).

My original point was the lack of "stereotypical secondary chunk of meat", the vast majority of your examples are anything but. I admit there are examples in there I didn't think of (How did I forget Duke Nukem?) but the majority of your list was compiled with entirely the wrong idea in mind.

So you're emphasising the "secondary" part, then? Because that's usually a different kettle of fish. Alan Wake's wife, for example, is more or less a plot device that motivates him. Furthermore, I can save myself a lot of quoting and copypasting by just linking you to TV Tropes in The Smurfette Principle [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheSmurfettePrinciple]. I usually try to stay away from TV Tropes out of distaste, but occasionally it proves useful as a compiler of lists.

Furthermore, take any game with a male main character and see if the women in the game are three-dimensional, fully realised characters that have the same depth and vibrancy as the main character or if they're just two-dimensional carboard cutouts meant to titillate, provide the hero's motivation or progress the plot.

I will also link to this article, What Women Want In Female Video Game Protagonists [http://www.themarysue.com/what-women-want-in-female-video-game-protagonists/], which highlights some of the issues I've touched ("If I?m a soldier, I want to look like the rest of my squad. If I?m escaping a zombie apocalypse, I want shoes I can run in and clothes that minimize the likelihood of getting bitten. If I?m a warrior of song and legend, I want a set of plate mail that will silence a room when I walk in. None of these things require a trade-off of my sexuality or femininity." and "And if she?s in an outfit that says ?sexy? while all her male counterparts are in outfits that say ?powerful,? that?s a red flag ? especially if she?s the only woman there." and "honestly, how many more gruff, emotionless dudes with dead wives/girlfriends do we need?").

Also, I dislike Jimquisition and disagree with much of what he says. This week is included.

So you support the idea of censoring any possible discussion of an -ism in a videogame? Of reacting violently whenever someone raises what could be a valid point (or not) instead of allowing a calm discussion to take place? Because what he's saying is quite sensible.

I'm still talking in not-all-caps, aren't I? If I wanted to censor discussion, I'm doing a particularly terrible job at it, aren't I? I don't think I should have to accept that games are oh-so-sexist, though.

For each of your counters, I offer a counter-counter:

Catwoman: Her sex appeal is one of her weapons. She knows it disarms guys a bit, and uses it to full effect. That's not sexist, that's a character choice with rationale.

Cybil: She's *SPOILER* a tailor-made-to-you hallucination to make you uncomfortable. When I played, she didn't have the epic cleavage. She's the way she is because you made her that way, not because she reflects anything in reality.

Bayonetta: She exists in a completely alternate universe where her attacks are powered by sex appeal. I don't really approve, but I'm 99% sure it ain't sexist.

Also, Lara Croft spends the majority of her time in gear that covers her breasts just fine. Even when she rips her flaming jacket off in Legend, she's wearing a turtleneck sweater underneath. A TURTLENECK. The only REALLY fanservicey moment I can think of in the last three games was the "Japanese corporate work party turned Yakuza sting" level.

And no, I'm focusing on secondary AND "chunk-of-meat" mentality. Lead women are rarely, if ever, viewed as a sexual object and little else (even Lara Croft has motivations and backstory). That's already a good sign. And even if a woman's breasts ARE on display (although you and I seem to have difference ideas of what "on display" means"), it's not an instant indicator of "chunk-of-meat" mentality. As I mentioned before, Shaundi is somewhat sexualized, but she's her own character who has a distinct personality and helps drive the story.

I also take issue with your "Physical Activity = Full Covering" idea. You've never gone climbing, have you? Clothes are annoying, clothes get in the way, clothes catch on to things and wreck your plans. Lara's classic outfit:

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRQ_n-Q4pify843CN7A9PAg03A441kG2W6E8-y2wxNNzR4eNNRy

... while admittedly skimpy in the legs, is ideal for most of the situations she's in. She didn't fight lots of gunmen in the first game, it was just her against the elements, animals, and rocks. She would have been scuffed, yes, and she probably has legendary callouses on her knees, but that's approximately the type of outfit I would wear if I went cliff climbing again (except with kneepads and shorts instead of hotpants). Formfitting is good in these situations, because it's immensely less likely to catch on things.

Same with Faith from Mirror's Edge, which I mentioned a while back.

Also, I like how you mention Dragon Age Origins, because while a few woman are underdressed, MOST OF THEM AREN'T. Even better, people always mention Morrigan's barely-there clothing, but no one remembers that you can put her in something else that's more practical. It's up to you, you know. The only consistently underdressed group in the game is the lust demons, and gee, I wonder why?

Taking up your challenge of male leads, females supporters:

Starcraft: Success! (If anything, Kerrigan is MORE interesting than Raynor.)

Street Fighter: Success! (NO one is well developed.)

Myst: Success! (Catherine is more competent, more interesting and more headstrong than Atrus. If you read the books, it gets even more so.)

Cave Story: Success! (Again, lack of development.)

Those are just off the top of my head, now I'm having that awkward moment where I'm browsing my library of games and not finding ANY games that fit your stereotype, by having an unknown protagonist (Darwinia), a selectable protagonist (Tropico), a female protagonist (Alice), or no real female supporting protagonist (Rayman). I guess "Gish" fits your stereotype, if you can consider a blob of tar who doesn't say anything to be an interesting lead character.

And regarding "What Women Want In A Character": Again, Dragon Age, XCOM, Tropico, Mirror's Edge, later Elder Scrolls, Fallout... the list actually does go on.

(I'm realizing that my dislike of FPS games might be clouding my perception of what's popular, since most stereotypes that people talk about seem to be originating from there, a genre I never play.)

 

[Doom972]

That's the kind of feminism I support. Women shouldn't just say "it's not fair" and make biased YouTube videos, but take charge and make the effort to change it.

 

[lacktheknack]

Keep in mind that testosterone/estrogen may cause brains to work differently based on how much is present. Some stereotypes exist for a reason.

(I'm not saying which ones because I don't presume to know which are accurate, so don't feel the need to viciously attack me for being open to unpopular possibilities.)

Also keep in mind that studies have shown that male college students performed better at mathematical tests and female students performed worse if they are reminded of their gender right before taking the test. Likewise, both groups performed better if they were told their school usually had high scores on a test and performed worse if they were told their school usually had low scores on the test. You can read more about this in Delusions of Gender (Fine, 2011).

Basically, the conclusion is that we internalize what we perceive to be external expectations of ourselves and these expectations influence how well we do certain things. This can be something as simple as women not getting into math or performing well at math because "it is a man's field" or men finding themselves dumbfounded when supposed to take care of a baby or have a sensitive conversation about a friend's break-up.

Women not getting into gaming is kind of like men not getting into nursing. All my male colleagues can relate a story about how they've been either implied to be gay or have been asked outright, simply because they work as RNs. And considering the kind of treatment Felicia Day got last year (being compared to a booth babe by a journalist and having loads of gamer step up to his defense), are we really surprised many women stay out of gaming?

While that all has an effect, I actually did a rudimentary Google check, and yes, the levels of hormones found in each gender causes different things to happen in your brain, affecting cognitive function and other things.

So maybe (GASP) it's a combination of both reasons.

 

[Strazdas]

Well last year i met (not counting the random match being random) more felamle gamers than male ones. granted some of them were "out there", but then so are the males. so i guess this will bring influx of female game designers as well later on when these gamers grow up and want to work in the industry.

Despite the average gamer age being well in the adult age, gamers community is mostly childish. these are the kind of gamers that have most time on their hands and do not have the knowledge to use it for anything mroe than just flaming others. so the community turns into spitpit.

Society and gender roles push women towards more "caring" and "service" careers (like nursing, teaching, and waiting) while it pushes men towards more "technical" and "production" careers (like accounting, construction, and engineering). This is bad and needs to change. Is that so hard to understand? :\

i am an accounting major. There are 3 males (myself included) and 30 females in the group. saying that accounting is a "male job" is laughable.

Also, I like how you mention Dragon Age Origins, because while a few woman are underdressed, MOST OF THEM AREN'T.

i havent palyed DA:O (shame on me) so i dont know how it is in whole game. but when i watched a trailer i kept thinking "well they are climbing a mountain, in a snowstorm, the males are dressed on warm clothes and the females are... pretty much naked. why are they not bloody freezing to death?" Its not so much a sexual appeal as why woudl you be 80% naked in a snowstorm? that doesn't make sense.

 

[lacktheknack]

Also, I like how you mention Dragon Age Origins, because while a few woman are underdressed, MOST OF THEM AREN'T.

i havent palyed DA:O (shame on me) so i dont know how it is in whole game. but when i watched a trailer i kept thinking "well they are climbing a mountain, in a snowstorm, the males are dressed on warm clothes and the females are... pretty much naked. why are they not bloody freezing to death?" Its not so much a sexual appeal as why woudl you be 80% naked in a snowstorm? that doesn't make sense.

Different experience than mine, then. The women in my party, Leiliana, Wynne and Morrigan, all had conservative armor/robes (Morrigan starts in half a shirt, but that changes).

 

[Geisterkarle]

IMHO many people don't understand, that there is no sexism in the gaming industry or other male-dominated fields. The sexism is on the outside!

What I mean: There will be some exceptions, but 99% of all men in male-dominated fields are not sexist, but are really happy, if women work there; hell you may not notice it, but we men in these industries love women (most of the time ). I don't know a man (like I said, there may be some exceptions, but I don't know one personally) in the technology business, that is saying "what is this woman working here? Better she get's back into the kitchen!". It's not happening!

The sexism comes from the outside, people not working in this business! THEY are saying: "What? She is an engineer? Ha, got propably in there with her tits and has no skills!" or we also can do it the other way round with a man that is working as a "kindergarten teacher" ("What a pussy! Go work in construction!"). My mother is working at an elementary school and she always talks about that they would reaaaally like some more men working there too, but they aren't!
So the "idea" that you have to change the gaming business and do something about the non-existing sexism in there to attract more women is stupid; you have to change how people think on the outside!

 

[Aaron Sylvester]

The game industry doesn't NEED women any more than the nursing industry NEEDS men. You don't hire people trying to even out gender representations, you hire people based on increasing the overall standards of the game industry. If I was given a choice between hiring a woman and hiring a man who is better qualified (and interested), I'm NOT going to hire the woman no matter how much idiots yell at me "but we NEED women!". No...we need people who are motivated, dedicated, talented, etc. And if 95% of those people happen to be male, I don't have a fucking problem with that. Do you?

Nobody except the politically-sensitive nutters with megaphones (whom I consider slightly less important than the earthworms in my backyard) have a problem with that.

Gabrielle Toledano is a business-woman, not a game developer. In fact she has absolutely NOTHING to do with gaming in her entire life if the biography is to be believed, her career has revolved around Human Resources. As vice president of EA (a publisher) the job is 99% people management and business dealings, games are nothing more than products at that level. Even in our own company we have women like that...in high managerial positions with nothing more than extremely basic IT qualifications, if any (lol). It's about managing people, knowing the right people, being able to sell a product, making a good quarterly statement, etc etc.

A woman in such a position saying "the game industry needs women!" means squat. She shouldn't even be using the word "game", she has nothing to do with games. You can call me a cynic but if you see here: http://www.ea.com/executives
I really, really wouldn't be surprised if EA only has her over there in order to say "see? We AREN'T run solely by greedy ower-hungry men...look, a woman!". And I hate to say such things, I'm sure she is damn good at her job...but the odds of her gender being a factor to her being there is a fair possibility.

 

[Gethsemani_v1legacy]

While that all has an effect, I actually did a rudimentary Google check, and yes, the levels of hormones found in each gender causes different things to happen in your brain, affecting cognitive function and other things.

So maybe (GASP) it's a combination of both reasons.

Sure. The problem here is that, as was pointed out in the thread on male domestic abuse [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/528.396423-Female-on-Male-Domestic-Abuse-through-Cultural-Lenses-and-Personal-Theories?page=4#16300112] in this very forum, the only way to reliably ascertain hormone levels in the brain is to extract cerebrospinal-fluid via a lumbar puncture. This is, as also pointed out, a medical procedure with quite some risks associated with it and thus not performed for "simple" research reasons.

Once again I refer you to Delusions of Gender (Fine, 2011) because Cordelia Fine does an admirable job at pointing out the often lacking evidence for neurological differences between the genders. I'd also point you to Bennett et al. [http://prefrontal.org/files/posters/Bennett-Salmon-2009.pdf] for their ability to succinctly point out why most modern research using MRI-scans should be taken with a huge pinch of salt: Because their threshold values are simply set too low, allowing technical interference and residual brain activity in a dead fish to register as statistically significant.

Since I work daily in psychiatry, I'm quite keenly aware of the role the transmitor substances in our synapses play in determining how we behave and how altered hormonal levels can affect mood and cognitive functions. However, I am all in favor of not making grandiose statements about "natural" male or female ways of being, because they tend to be built on shaky evo-psych reasoning and they also tend to be quite exclusionary to the large sections of both genders (and those that don't conform to either) that doesn't fit the proposed "natural".