Video Games And Gender Roles

Video Games: Exploring The Influence of Gender Within Society

Throughout this paper, I will be exploring the spectrums of femininity and masculinity within video games in the American pop culture. Since video games were first marketed, a theme has been prevalent till this day: the notion of masculinity (how to be a man) and the sexualization of females (sexist portrayals of women) in video games. This profound issue affects the younger generation within gender socialization, gender stereotypes, and gender schemas of male and female characters. A male point of view exists through video games which is called the male gaze. Through the male gaze which is reflected in most society, the spectacle of females within games is created which defines
The male population, within games, tells women that in order to be beautiful, you must fit this archetype of beauty and if not, makes women feel inferior. Also, not only is the notion of beauty emphasized, the notion of what it is to be masculine and have power are important issues that surface through video games, as in relation to femininity. The portrayal of male characters through such games creates a stereotype of how males should look, behave, and interact with women. Throughout this paper, with the help of Karen E. Dill’s “Video Game Characters and Socialization of Gender Roles: Young People’s Perceptions Mirror Sexist Media Depictions,” the Media Education Foundation film Game Over: Gender, Race & Violence in Video Games, as well as Laura Mulvey, I will be focusing how our society demotes one gender over the other using the gender portrayals of video game male and female characters, and why Americans, specifically the
Female characters in the earlier years were limited to low quality graphics, such as the famous Ms. Pac-Man, whose indication of gender was represented by her hair bow. Now in more modern times, the images of females have drastically changed into something more sexual, subordinate, and erotic. These characters were always underrepresented in any situation (Dill 1). Nintendo’s fictional character video game Mario is an example of a female character always the “damsel in distress.” In every story line existed, Princess Peach is always captured by Mario’s arch nemesis, Bowser, the powerful, mean, and monstrous Koopa Troopa turtle. The whole goal of the game is to play as Mario, defeat Bowser and rescue Princess Peach back into his safety. The “damsel in distress” is a traditional role for females in games. It gives men the power to use their masculinity and save them from danger.
A growing factor of the subordination of females through the male gaze is the sexualization of young women in video games. Young women are depicted as “the vision of beauty” in these interactive games. Although they are labeled as the subordinate ones that are always in need of a man’s help, empowering “buxom female heroine” characters are becoming more dominant. but are merely created to entertain to the main consumers: men (Media Education Foundation). A perfect example of such