Stereotypes In Video Games

Gender Stereotypes in Video games Characters with disproportionate bodies. Characters submissive characteristics and storylines. Video games have come under criticism for the recent use of female characters. Whether it be how the characters look, or even behave within the story compared to their male counterparts. Yet, these criticisms and possible sexism have gone somewhat unnoticed by the community. It is important to understand how these sorts of stereotypes have any impacts on the consumer and the gaming industry, and what that could possibly mean for the psychological status of society. Beck, Boys, Rose and Beck (2012) look at violence within video games that are aimed at women, and how that may have an impact on the rape myths within society. Violence in video games have been widely discussed and debated amongst experts, yet not many people have
From the very beginnings, men have been the prince or hero that go to save the girl in distress from the evil villain (Dickerman, et al., 2008). Now in more recent video games, these depictions have become more and more disturbing. Now, heroes have weapons, and the women are usually shown as prostitutes or victims of vicious crimes. Very rarely are women seen in powerful characters or good situations.
Along with the storylines, women are physically shown in video games with excessive proportions. Most women in video games are depicted with large breasts, small waists and full lips (Dickerman, et al., 2008). One of the best examples of this woman figure is Lara Croft from the “Tomb Raider” games (Dickerman, et al., 2008). Woman have long been used as ways to get men to buy video games, whether it be through the promises of violence, or promiscuous women. Women are even used in negative ways in advertisements to persuade men to buy the games.
Women in Advertisements for