Girls Are Fighting Sexism With a Video Game About Tampons

Two New York high schoolers are hoping to combat misogyny with Tampon Run, a game that cleverly replaces guns in an old school shooter game with, well, tampons. The girls, who graduated from the Girls Who Code camp — a program that teaches girls to code in hopes of closing the gender gap in tech — this summer, thought it was strange that violence and guns seem to be so mainstream in our culture while talking about periods — which every woman experiences — is not. Hence the invention of Tampon Run. In the game, tampons are used as projectiles to throw at oncoming enemies.

[Halo2ODST2]

What Sexism, there isn't any in Gaming

[mixelon]

Surely nobody is delusional and/or dumb enough to think that's the case.

There is definitely some sexism in gaming. There's anough of it just around here.

Being absolutist about it just make people look either dismissive or insane. You can argue about its severity or importance - you can say "but it's the same outside of gaming!" And other debatable but legitimate claims - but you can't in any way claim it doesn't exist at all.

Insanity.

[ps4lifesucka]

It's not sexism to draw a woman that's overly attractive. It's not sexism to want to look at a naked body or want to touch one... It's not sick or gross or wrong. When all you do is watch or play things where people die or get killed that is. Please stop with this western moral crap. Sex isn't bad killing is. You're the one that's backwards

[Droidbro]

You're an idiot. You can make that argument on just about anything, so your point is meaningless. It is a fact that any sexism in games is negligible compared to any other medium. I hope you're not a woman. I wouldn't want to come off as sexist.

[Deadpool616]

Oh Good! Mixelon! For a second there I thought you weren't going to show up. You're in these particular comment sections day in, day out, expecting a different result from other folks, so I thought you would be the person to ask this insane question to. I'm asking your expert opinion, because I want to KNOW how this can pertain to making a game. Okay...here's my question.

What the hell is a tampon? And what do they do?

[Halo2ODST2]

There is defiantly Inequality outside of gaming, but none present within Gaming, all it is, is about having fun, a Hobby,although some delusional people mistake Marketing to a specific demographic as sexism

[Halo2ODST2]

Wait, is this Satire, this recent Altercation with the Indie Dev was about Corruption in the Gaming Industry

[DiscoKid]

How ironic. They seek equality in gaming by making a game that is completely irrelevant to males.

Do some of these girl gamers not know there are renowned female game designers still designing games to this day?

[L0YD]

No they don't, but they would bitch and moan even if they did.

[TheOtherVitaOwner]

How are they "bitching and moaning" they just made a game. Back the fuck off.

[Soldierone]

That's the funny thing. Some of the best games on the shelf we written by a female, a lot were even designed by a female.

[ICANPLAYGAMES2]

Good luck with that.

[EdoubleD]

Video game tampons... Why?
Please, tell me why is this happening? How is it in anyway positive or a statement against sexism?
My brain, you know what. Knock yourselves out with this game, I'm sure there were stranger ones that came before it.
Just the thought of it.

Christ...

[Droidbro]

It's called radical feminism. These girls are probably fat and ugly and in the off chance that they are attractive would drive men away with their man hate. The radical feminist is an intolerant bully who looks to ruin anything perceived to be "for guys." And they are usually crude, unimaginative and ruthless with their methods.

[ShaunCameron]

Too bad the OG feminists were disgruntled affluent housewives and spoiled brats that openly supported communism.

[Blacktric]

"Please, tell me why is this happening?"

Okay, think of the most womanly thing you can think of... It's most likely going to be tampons and not caring, compassion or any other humanly crap. So yeah, that's why they're making a game about tampons to fight "misogyny"... /s

And to think that these moronic agenda pushing devs are 16-17 years old... I guess the camp they went was basically SJW training boot camp fronting as a coding camp.

[annoyedgamer]

Alot of feminists like to wear tampon ear rings it was only a matter of time before this garbage was made.

[mixelon]

Hahaha. Oook.

A lot? You have a very different interpretation of "a lot" to me. An immeasurably small percentage? Basically none?

The lengths people go to to paint "feminists" as the other, some sort of weird alien thing, is hilarious.

[annoyedgamer]

Hi there Sir White Knight. NO painting needed. The proof is right here. Meanwhile REAL women's rights activists are trying to keep women from being victimized all around the world.

http://cdn.ph.upi.com/sv/i/...

[mixelon]

That was *one woman* campaigning a Texas law change to abortion law. Important issue.

Got people talking. Of course! Women who are talking about abortion laws aren't REAL women's rights activists to you. Makes sense.

Again.. You said LOTS. Which was, and still is FUD.

I don't mind being labelled a white knight if you don't mind me labelling you an ignoramus.

[annoyedgamer]

So you know who is in the image? But you said nobody does it? Caught lying again. There is more I just cannot post it here as the feminists are en engaging in more "mature" "respectable" behaviors in public.

Have a good day Sir Knight.

[Droidbro]

The murder of defenseless babies is not a right much less a women only right. Radical feminists are typically very selective and inconsistent in their outrage. For example criticizing Romney over something as inconsequential as referring to a collection of women's resumes as "binders full of women" (perfectly acceptable and inoffensive language) while conveniently forgetting (or even defensevive of) the rapist Bill Clinton or the murder of a woman by Ted Kennedy or the systematic abuse and torture of women in many Muslim countries.

[LightDiego]

LOL, these feminists are really seeking attention.

[TheWackyMan]

Tampons? Really? We should make a game about condoms because equality.

[strangeaeon]

Yeah, something about condoms and prostates.

[Angeljuice]

I have no problem with female centric games, but this is just pathetic. It shows a real lack of imagination;

"lets make a completely generic game but replace bullets with tampons",
"yeah that will educate people and inform them about the issues that women face in today's society".

Seriously though, do these girls really think we should be discussing menstruation more frequently? I hope this is fake.

[ShaunCameron]

Too bad what women face have always paled in comparison to what men face and always will.

[terminallyCapricious]

No thats a dead lie. EVERYONE was oppressed. Everyone was ruled by kings, queens, or some sort of religion. The way we lived was critical to our survival as a species. The man (who is better at hard manual labor) took care of food and crops and women (better at raising children and controlling the household) held the household. each had their job and just because it was like that doesnt mean it was sexist. Now when people first got their freedom men primarily won it. Then it was up to women to do so as well. and they did. Now both men and women stand equal in most things. women may even have it better than men in this day in age in the first world nations.

[ginganinja]

"Seriously though, do these girls really think we should be discussing menstruation more frequently?"
By the sound of the interview, just an acknowledgement and a little bit of empathy would suffice.

[Angeljuice]

"Acknowledgement"? seriously? Believe me, when your woman is menstruating you know all about it whether you want to or not.

When a perfectly nice, loving and warm hearted human being suddenly becomes aggressive, argumentative, vicious, irrational over sensitive and violent, you know about it.

I know not all women display all these symptoms, but most women display at least some of them.

[TheOtherVitaOwner]

A couple of kids....made a game....how is this a problem?

[CerealKiller]

This game is sexist against males.

[vanity29]

Lmaooo I hope this is satire, this is too funny. Why tampons doe, what do feminist want to show by using tampons?

[DevilOgreFish]

And Miley cyrus is producing it. which is also ironic because what would she know about that?

[Ogygian]

Well, that hole they dug those copies of E.T out of needs filling with something...

[trywizardo]

feminism : males and females must have the same rights and get the same treatments , but females must have more rights and get better treatments xD

[Angeljuice]

Thats correct, they want universal equality except where it doesn't suit them.
Take sports for example, you hear lots of arguments from women saying they want equal prize money, but how often do they argue that men and women should be competing against each other?

How many female athletes would be forced to retire if the Olympics implemented full equality? There would be no female athletes in the top 1000 of any sport.
Whenever there is one race/event for men and another for women, that is sexual discrimination, but as it's in women's favour, they agree with it wholeheartedly with no questions asked.

Female boxers taking on men anybody?

It's funny how when a sport turns up where there is no distinct advantage to being male (such as certain forms of motor racing), women do compete on a level playing field.

[kainslayer]

ffs feminist crap gaming comunity doesent give a f...k go bake a cake or something ,learn to cook or ramsey will go after you f
donkeys

[mixelon]

Wait! Didn't you get the memo? THERE IS NO SEXISM IN GAMING!

Jeez, get with the program. Gamers are enlightened, accepting, Inclusive and value other people's opinions!

[kainslayer]

no gamers are like their idols arrogant and unforgiving go lecture somewhere else about enlightment jeez grow a pair already...

[mixelon]

This is a pair of teenage girls making a fun sounding (to make, not necessarily to play) project about some issues that mean something to themselves. Also respect for them actually stating they wanted to include a "social justice message" that either takes nievity or courage in the current climate. XD

Good for them. Particularly for being in time.com haha.

[Megaplaynate]

In that case, a game with an oversexualized female is ok because it means something to the devs?
And you should also respect the devs for making a game that shows that women are as strong and independent as men with said character, right?

[Spotie]

I'm still waiting on you to make sense.

[Ogygian]

To be fair, Megaplaynate makes a good point.

I mean, most of us on here are not being hateful as feminists generally are when they attack games made about issues important to them from the perspective they disagree with.

Not my cup of tea, but if there are people out there who can enjoy it I don't see a problem with it. I just won't buy it. And that is the attitude feminists should politely extend in return.

[Dee_91]

" that either takes nievity or courage in the current climate"

Are you s#itting me? This is whats hip nowadays. Everyone is doing it, everyone is making an issue out of literally everything, but some how it takes them courage to do this because people are not stupid enough to think with their emotions but instead with their brains are calling them on all of the BS over exaggerations, hypocrisy, and generally horribly thought out agendas ??
I mean I could care less about the game and the message they are trying to send because I don't agree with , but at least they believe in something I guess.But I can't sit idly by and watch people act like the crap spewing out of their mouths are accurate.

[ShadowWolf712]

...wait, this isn't P4R? This is legit?

...I need a moment.

[GeofferyPeterson]

You just made me cry tears of joy and sarcastic hilarity. Thank you!

[Droidbro]

Here's my game: Sammich Run. As in, run and make me a Sammich.

[Tempest317]

I lol'd pretty hard at this, ty

[hazelamy]

no sexism in gaming?

it's debatable how much there is in the industry, but this comments section shows there's a fucking shitload in the, so called, community.

i mean jesus fucking christ, you get all the bleating from the manchildren that "if women want games for women, why don't they make them", then they do, and we get "they're women making games for women, they're sexist".

fuck this "community", really just fuck it.

goodbye bubbles, i knew ye well, still, if it means i interact less with this band of fucking neanderthals, losing them aint so bad.

[Deadpool616]

Generalizing to feel validated? Encompassing (Wait...wait let me look in my thesaurus for more Big Words) your inner distress in a projected hypoglycemic...GAH screw it.

You mad bro?

[LoveSpuds]

For me this sounds completely counter productive.

Instead of focusing on concepts such as empathy, compassion and other positive characteristics that could demonstrate female values and strengths they do something like this that does nothing more than make even the most liberal of males think 'what hell, is this a joke?'

If they want to foster discussion and awareness of female issues then there are much better ways than creating a game where instead of attacking with bullets you are doing it with tampons.

It is a waste of their potential and also shows a complete lack of awareness of how valuable womens contributions to the industry are. I just see this as a misguided and poorly judged attempt by kids with a lack of ideas on how handle issues they care about, nothing more.

[Deadpool616]

Does this game give anyone else the...Not so fresh feeling?

No wait! I wasn't being sexist! It was a joke! Kinda! I'm only a little funky...I eat a lot of Mexican food.

[josephayal]

i can't wait to play tampons in full 1080p

[Droidbro]

And 60 fps!