Is it acceptable to sexualize female video game characters, or should we strive to avoid doing such things?

[PerfectDark_Joe]

Take for example classic characters like Lara Croft, Joanna Dark, Samus, Tifa, Ada Wong, 2B, Tracer, Widowmaker and many more. This is of course not just limited to video games, and we can see the same thing played out in film, television, animation.

These female characters clearly have well defined proportions that are meant to draw attention to certain parts of their body. Be it a thin waste, or a relatively large breasts, or costuming that makes them appear almost naked. The fact remains that female characters are often sexualized, and many boys find their first crushes this way.

However, should this continue? Should this be viewed as acceptable?
Some view it as a medium that merely takes an artsy approach to appreciating the beauty of the female figure?
Others clearly view it as downgrading a woman to being nothing but a piece meat, and laying unrealistic expectations on females?

What is your perspective?

Updates

+1 y

*waist
don't worry, I can spell.

[ShadezMcgee]

I don't see anything wrong with this in all honesty. Now I know my response will probably trigger people in here, but I am offering my honest take on this.

Video games are a form of cinematic art and entertainment, no different from Hollywood now. The largest consumer of video games in terms of gender demographics are men. Video games are supposed to be a fantasy and a form of escape. I can think of women characters from video games that were more pronounced and had ridiculous proportions, but that is kind of the point. It isn't real, nor should that be a reflection on what society wants to see. Some women characters that come to mind: Joanna Dark (Perfect Dark), Lara Croft (Tomb Raider), Ivy (Soul Caliber), Ada Wong (Resident Evil), Claire Redfield (Resident Evil), etc. They are all beautiful women with proportions that sexualize them, true, but that plays into the fantasy that guys like to escape to. What is sexier than a beautiful woman? A beautiful woman that can do badass things like these girls can and still maintain the level of sexuality and femininity. Unrealistic? Yes. Wrong? No.

Let's take it a step further. This happens to guys in video games too. There are men that are drawn as buff and strong dudes that have godlike strength, same goes for guys in movies. Men can't achieve those standards and maintain them either. Is it sexual objectification if women do that to men in games or movies, example being Magic Mike. Or even buff and handsome guys playing the lead in a romance movie? No. It appeals to the fantasy.

If we want to be real, the entertainment industry is being taken too seriously as opposed what it should be. Escape, fantasy and entertainment. This is one reason why Anita Sarkeesian really pissed me off with the bullshit she did. A woman who doesn't play video games used her personal views to not only attack a medium she doesn't care about or have a stake in because she wanted to be offended and took personal issue with something that had no business to be taken seriously to begin with. Because of that, the industry now has this stigma when there was no reason for it.

Now, I should also note that I like realism in games to a degree, but at the same time, too much takes the fun out of it or has no place depending on the game, genre and all of that.

[HighlyVolatile]

I don't think it's so productive to try to prevent idealized or sexualized figures from appearing in fiction (we have a whole history of works in all sorts of mediums to contend with, after all) so much as to teach people to understand that many people will fall short of such ideals in reality. If there's a problem with people blurring fantasy with reality, then I don't think the solution is to try to reshape their fantasies closer to realities than to help them distinguish the two better.

[AmandaYVR]

Video games are fantasy, conceived and made by men. They reflect men's superficiality. They do not convey all that men are, but instead are mostly indulgent, created as entertainment, not much more. (And a bit of problem-solving, and socializing, potentially.)

The longer men draw females are mere caricature, the longer and more we will have problems relating to one another, truly appreciating one another.

It is a problem. But it's not one that men want to solve in their world of fantasy.

Solution: Hire more female game designers. They must write the stories, the female characters.

Play time is fine. But delusions can be harmful.

P. S. Bravo on your question. 👏

[AmandaYVR]

by the way, also related:
Do you believe video games are a bad influence on people? ↗

[IAMNathanael]

Aside from superficiality, I think videogames also have the potential as an art medium.

Have I rambled on enough about how much I love Halo... probably not lol. That game has has some of the most beautiful and inspiring scenery I've personally ever seen.

The way the Forerunners design their structures in the early games really brings out my inner architect. Much of the design philosophy is taken from styles of brutalism in the real world.

[AmandaYVR]

Sorry, I shouldn't have used the word superficialities. Perhaps base is a better word.
I meant it primarily in terms of the Asker's topic headline. But yeah, also fighting, demolishing things, wrestling demons, etc.

There are many games now, and yes you can find exceptions, but generally speaking female characters are hyper-sexualized and minor and marginalized.
Not drawing rich and dynamic female characters, or allowing real people to play them, ends up being another way to demean and alienate them from what many males still feel is their domain, their club.

This is a decent article, written by a female gamer.
"They are still commonly “damsels in distress” or “bikini babes,” while the male characters in the game still dominate the central positions."
www.digitalamerica.org/.../

I'm not speaking of you, or my husband, or a good friend of mine, and some others. But the misogynists are out there. I've read many articles about the abuse and disrespect they inflict on especially young female players. Females are beat into submission, turning off their mics, not speaking during gameplay, just listening, knowing full well what happens when they open their mouths in these realms.

But I agree with you, games are also art (some of them), and they offer beautiful landscapes, mind puzzles, building virtual cities etc., sometimes good storytelling, and occasionally good character development.
Please don't confuse my condemnation of some as being all. Each game can, and should, be assessed on its own merits... and where it errs. But if men play, and men don't care, the imbalances continue, and they may also play out irl.

[IAMNathanael]

No need for apologies! I think everything you said has merit. As bad as games can be, this stuff should definitely be considered.

But videogames, even as good as they can be, I think should be played in moderation.

[Sirenboobzilla]

It's a video game. Who cares. If someone doesn't like women sexualized in video games then they shouldn't play video games. Same as not walking in to strip clubs

[kuladiamond]

I dont care i play the games and i dont think of things that dont relate to the gameplay, but i mean... If we need to talk about this then the simple answer is that people like attractive things, so people will keep designing things as attractive, nothing much anyone can do to change it, nor should they try and change it, if an artist can't draw what they want are they an artist anymore?

[Anonymous]

I'm a toxic male that like big tittys fat ass
Ass shots upskirts, boob windows.

And sensual clothing.

It's made for men because men buy over 80% of the games.

I'm not denying my what I like for some fat LGBT pink hair carpet muncher

[Splatmate22]

Video games are not real. I only play on splaton 2 and the avatar doesn't effort me. It might depend on others that do not play video games that might have issues.

[elizamichale1]

Well i personally dont mind but in general i think it invites problems for both girls n boys

[Phantomshadow77]

Even though they’re fictional characters, it still trains your brain to see women as objects. It may start at fictional characters, but it often doesn’t just stop at fictional characters.

[Dinosaursandanime65]

Yes but there are limits.

[NathanDavis]

I am a grown up