Do you believe people in movies/games etc. can only identify with characters of the same gender/race?

[Cubus]

I personally don't agree. I never had problems with identifying with Africans/Asians/women, as long as they are properly written.

[letuswaltzforthedead]

Yes and no. Yes in the sense that it helps the child see other people that look like them do good because it's a direct way of saying "this could be you" but it also depends on the child's mindset. I think it's common for children to look at characters that look nothing like them and think "oh, they can do that because they (whatever group). I can't be like that because I'm not him/her."

[Cubus]

Well, I remember watching Star Wars, as a little kid, and I didn't feel any different with Lando Carlissian or Mace Windu being Black nor had problems with identifying with them.

[letuswaltzforthedead]

That's fine, I think it's a matter of perspective. Some kids will think of it negatively and others won't care if the characters look like them or not. It doesn't really affect the plot most of the times.

[NathanDavis]

I never saw it like that...

I just never "identified or related myself" to someone fictional

so to me it has never mattered if their skin is of either color, or ethnicity or gender

I don't even care if they're human or not... lol

[NamerOfStars]

Some, to be sure- but we have a word for those people in English. They're not "disadvantaged" and in need of representation; they're "psychopathic" and in need of mental help. If you can only relate to people like yourself, YOU are the problem.

[Chazmatazz269]

I’ve never had that issue, but i think if i weren’t white and i rarely saw people who looked like myself on screen and IF i saw them that they were always negatively portrayed, i might get fed up. As a man, i’m quite dissatisfied with the constant portrayal of men as either evil or completely useless now and that’s a fairly new trend. Ell oh ell!

[joeldalton]

According to the leftists they can't. Most normal people can.

[Lucy68]

To be honest it all depends

[maximumpower]

Depends upon the person and the character.

[SmokinAces2000]

Depends