Most boys believe female characters are objectified in gaming

A study has found that up to 61% of school age boys in America believe that female characters are too often treated as sex objects in games.

[insomnium2]

Men are also treated as sex objects and as meat to the grinder all the time and they are way too muscular etc.

So?

Should we only have fat ugly lesbian wheelchair diabetics as main characters now?

[Bionic_Simba]

That's a fair point. Would like to see how many girls believe that male characters are objectified in games. Although I doubt too many are attracted to characters like Marcus Fenix or Ken and Ryu.

[Rimeskeem]

But there are those like Nathan Drake, Dante, and Cloud that I can see females being attracted to.

[Lord_Sloth]

You might be surprised.

[SolidStoner]

nice points you all made there! I really hope we all get equal, good parenting and education can help alot..

"fat ugly lesbian wheelchair diabetics as main characters now?" nice character for next GTA series! :D

[Concertoine]

@Rimeskeem

Woman here, i can confidently say the ONLY game character that ive ever been attracted to was Joel from TLOU. He just seems so real and delicious. Every guy i talk to has a man crush on Joel too.

[Docknoss]

Man Here, I can confidently say that Cammy and a jubilee of other exquisite female characters in the gaming industry. Made my gaming experience alot more attractive in those Snes days to current Gen. It's basic human nature for men to like sexy women and for women to like Strong Alpha Male's. Of course this will be portrayed more in video games where your core demographic is male.

[donthate]

I think that is besides the point. It isn't a "you vs me" or "male vs female".

Female are overly sexualized and objectified way more than men. What we should be fighting for is men/women that are deeper characters that shows that they can do a variety of things.

I think we are on the right path towards this with more games featuring strong female characters, but it doesn't mean we are getting rid of strong male characters.

I wish games would have more "normal" characters in games. What about that geeky guy that when pushed to the edge has no choice, but to be a hero?

[Dee_91]

Well some games like witcher 3 and mortal kombat, yea, they have overly sexual outfits.It does kinda take away from the authenticity, thats my only complaint, but all this, "they portray women incorrectly" or "its degrading women" is BS in my opinion.But then again, i'm not a woman so its not in my position to judge how women feel about women in various entertainment mediums.But as a man, I find it hard to be envious, or feel some type of way because some guy has enormous pecs and a perfectly shaped butt in a video game.If anything it would make we want to work out more lol

[IceKoldKilla]

I agree women need to be presented more strongly, especially mentally. Biologically women are physically weaker but many men are weaker or just as weak and all skin n bones. We have all types of humans. One thing I beg for as a man is for women to cover up that huge slutty cleavage. Are the devs so horny? Do they want me to get a boner in a cutscene or while I fight enemies? Also, women contribute to this objectification. For ages society (mostly men) have made females think they are weak and inferior in every way, especially years ago. So parents grew teaching their daughters to only play with babies, wear pink, be pretty, get married, be a house wife, take care of your man, etc. Not all but many so only now we see younger people being exposed to the truth about women being equals. Another way women contribute to this objectification is by making more money by showing off your ass with tight pants, thong hanging out, cleavage and flirting with men to sell things at events, stores, online, etc. They don't wanna change the world. They rather play by rules and be guaranteed success thanks to their pretty face, slutty outfits and flirty attitude even going far as having sex to gain higher positions. Anyways, we seem to be changing slowly and internet helps. We can now communicate with almost anyone around the world and learn from each other. Glad N4G's community is mature when these subjects come along. N4G gets a negative image many times no thanks to fanboys that are ignorant, stupid and immature. With these comments, it helps me believe the world IS changing into a better place.

[camel_toad]

"Fat ugly lesbian wheelchair diabetics" lol... you pretty much did a sweep of stereotypes there. Good stuff. So tired of all the politically correct bs everywhere.

Funny bubble+

[turdburgler1080]

I'd love to see a fat ugly lesbian diabetic game character. You would have to take insulin shots the way you took malaria pills in far cry 2. It would be a real eye opener;-)

[Eldyraen]

Dead Rising games are closest you will probably ever come to a character described that way even if they are bosses and not playable.

[Mega24]

This guy is on point.

[Rachel_Alucard]

That's because woman are generally in a big fight over who's the prettiest and when they see video game women outdoing them, they think men will suddenly develop unrealistic expectations of beauty. It's also a group of fat Dyke rejects who are just jelly they will never be as pretty as some people just scapegoating their competition.

[SuperbVillain]

I would like to see a game like that

[assdan]

Here's a good example. So in mass effect, male characters usually are wearing large heavy armor, while the females are wearing incredibly tight fitting outfits instead. Female characters generally where a lot less clothing than their male counterparts.

[MRMagoo123]

You mean like most teen girls and young woman now days in real life ?

[insomnium2]

I usually live by "show 'em if you got 'em". I myself wear tight clothes and get much admiration or jealousy depending if the looker is male or female (or gay or straight for that matter). I'm a male myself btw and I like to work out at the gym (6.3ft and about 242 pounds).

I also get catcalled and my appearance talked about by strangers all the time even when I'm out with my wife. If I couldn't handle that I would wear something not so tight/revealing --> not bitch about it.

That said I really love beautiful women with tight revealing clothes wether it be in videogames or in real life. I keep myself in shape so all the women can ogle my body just as objectifying as they like and as long and much as they like. They can catcall or dicuss about my appearence all they want just like men can be just as jealous and resentfull as they want. See if I care.

Sexy men and sexy women in real life and in vdeogames. Like I said earlier. So what?

[assdan]

@mrmagoo, I'm saying there's a clear sexualization, and it's annoying. When I see someone going into battle in a suit of armor the barely hides genitalia, it's really takes you out of the game, when next to her is a guy wearing massive protective armor, which would actually make sense. If you think women aren't sexualized in games, your under a delusion.

[Jivesh]

You, have my upvote.

[Greyfoxdbz]

I think it is important for people to realise that objectification is not a bad word. Feminists use it to shame men for liking women prettier than themselves but we all judge people based on how they look, it's natural. Also being sexually attracted to someone does not diminish how much you value their ability to do velociraptor impressions, or how intelligent you think they are. The only difference is that the way someone looks is immediately apparent so we judge that thing first.

[ShinMaster]

I'm sure many of them don't know what actual sexual objectification is.

A character that shows some skin isn't a "sex object". There's nothing wrong with sexuality and it doesn't devalue a character.
What does having large breasts have to do with dignity?

[iceman06]

You forgot one thing...this was in the US. Therefore, everything you said about skin not equaling sex object is rendered moot. You know...'Merica...where we sell sex and condemn it at the same time! LOL

[GortJester]

Hateful bullet-point propaganda about the U.S. for the win... it's pretty tired by now that the U.S. is this and the U.S. is that because I say so and not based on anything real.

[Dark11]

Well said.

[SilentNegotiator]

#FreeTheNipple
#HideTheNipple

Modern feminists have no clue.

[00]

whats with all this stupid stuff about objectification? both men and women are objectified in entertainment media's and have been for decades it feels like society is going backwards where showing anything but the eyes is going to be considered sexual objectification.

[iceman06]

Can you imagine the EYE porn that will be generated from that!?!? LOL Just think, there was a time where showing one's ankles was considered slutty!!!

[Rooted_Dust]

It's the whole squeaky wheel thing...most guys don't find that kind of thing threatening to their self image.

[KryptoniteTail]

No they do not. Even if they do, it is only because of the feminazi propaganda and political correctness dictating thought now.

[Roccetarius]

Then most of those boys are plain stupid, or not allowed to think clearly for themselves because of indoctrination.

[ShaunCameron]

I wouldn't exactly call them stupid. I'd say they're too young to know any better. The latter part of your comment, though? Spot-on! What do you expect from and education system ran by leftists?

[deadpools_n64]

I objectify and stereotype women all the time. It makes me happily surprised when they step out of the mental boundaries in my head. But like a good healthy D/s relationship with chili dogs. It all ain't bad. Women are always gonna be objectified by men like me. Doesn't make me a bad guy. At least I'm honest about it all and accept it.

[iceman06]

The funny thing IS that, if we are being honest, women objectify men too. Except, the "object" is different...especially the older they get. Younger women are pretty much just like men. They tend to look at the physical features just as much. However, they add the extra layer of job, money, car, etc. The older they get (as that biological clock ticks away and societal pressure to marry and have kids approaches), the more looks become secondary to long term security, ability to protect and provide, etc. Women do it and claim a reason. Men just do it without any pretense.

[Spotie]

"Women do it and claim a reason. Men just do it without any pretense."

Best said statements about all this nonsense. Well freaking said.

[deadpools_n64]

It's still amusing how people push others to accept their way of thinking but never truly accept it themselves. The world would be a lot less dramatic then and we wouldn't have articles about how wrong it is to objectify the female form but more on the CPU and pixel draw from the games boobs physical mechanics and how much work went into writing the code. You know. Actual societal education on something is an undramatic manner

[Aloy-Boyfriend]

Very few games allow you to have sex with females in games anyways. What are they talking about?

Probably they played Ride to Hell: Retribution

[MegaRay]

They're talking about IMAGINATION! lol

[pompombrum]

Being honest, most boys probably consider females in games to be very conservative compared to their sister's favourite pop star "performing" in her underwear.

[rainslacker]

Most females in gaming are rather conservative compared to many women/girls/pre-teen girls that walk around the street or wherever on a daily basis. I wouldn't consider myself a prude by any stretch of the imagination, but I'm often shocked at some of the things females wear today. Granted...quite a few of them don't have the kinds of bodies that video game characters do to make it what I'd call sexy.

[Spotie]

Whenever I hear about these studies, I want to know the contents. I want to hear the questions asked, if they give context, whether or not the participants truly understand what's being asked, and- most importantly- if the very same conditions on all fronts is applied to the opposite gender.

Without knowing these things, we have no idea how slanted the study is. We don't know if they found the same for male characters(but that this was omitted from reports released into the wild). We have no idea how valid this is.

And we pretty much NEVER get that type of info when these stories pop up.

Thus, as far as I'm concerned, the study is invalid.

[rainslacker]

I think it proves that most boys don't know the meaning of objectify. The article topic itself is also rather slanted.

Consider this.

It says "most boys"...meaning the majority. But it doesn't say if they believe "most female characters" are objectified, or if it means that just "female characters" are objectified. The difference is meaningful, because most female characters aren't objectified in games. Most are just characters who happen to be female. Being an attractive female, even a scantily clad one, does not make them an objectification of something. It's easy to say that there are female characters who are objectified in games, but that's a big difference between all or many of them being objectified.

[Christopher]

How much easier is life to live when you find ways to nullify opposing views rather than realize that, sometimes, things are what they are.

Objectification of women is a regular thing in many male-focused activities. Sports, video games, action movies, and so on.

Saying that they are objectified doesn't mean that the people asked don't enjoy it at least some of the time, but they do realize that they are objectified.

I'd rather have a person who recognizes how women are treated in various mediums, while still enjoying it, than people who refuse to accept it while still enjoying it.

At the end of the day, sex will still sell. No two ways about that.

[Spotie]

... except I'm not doing that at all.

Are women objectified? Sure. It's something that exists in gaming.

But that's something that exists in society. ALL of them, really. The act is nothing unique to gaming, which is one of the problems I have with these articles and the studies they cite is that they treat gaming like it's some anomaly.

Furthermore, those same studies- and the accompanying articles- give the impression that the same is not true of male characters in gaming. That is patently false. Virtualyy every male character in gaming is as objectified as the female characters that get all the attention for it.

The reason I have problems with this article, and the studies they report on, is that they ignore that second half. For all we know, the study actually DID find that "most boys believe" male characters are objectified and the article intentionally leaves that out; on other hand, the study itself could have chosen to skip over that, entirely.

We don't know any of that. We NEVER know any of that. And that's why I consider this study invalid.

It has NOTHING to do with agreeing or disagreeing with an opinion.

[Christopher]

***Thus, as far as I'm concerned, the study is invalid.***

I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you over that statement, Spotie.

[Spotie]

Can you not discern the difference between not agreeing with an opinion and not accepting an outcome because of a lack of clarity? Do you believe it's wise to just agree with someone because they say "A study told us this, so it's true?"

I'm not so naive as that. Especially when I don't need a study to look at a dozen popular male characters and see the objectification there. Especially when I KNOW that many studies- or the reports of their findings- are tilted to have or portray a certain outcome.

If I can't determine that the findings of this study were reached in a fair and unbiased method, is that not wise?

Hell, I'm not even disagreeing with the core idea that "female characters are objectified." I'm questioning the "most boys" part. Furthermore, I'm questioning why, all things considered, there's no word on whether "most boys" think male characters are objectified. If the study sought only one of these things, or if the participants were led to believe something that was untrue or unclear, the study is and should be invalidated, scientifically, due to an inherent bias in its very design.

As I said, I don't know for certain; however, what's being reported on doesn't sound very impartial.

[Christopher]

***Do you believe it's wise to just agree with someone because they say "A study told us this, so it's true?" ***

No, there's always interpretation. But, I don't believe it wise to just throw out all elements of it because you don't know exactly how questions were prefaced to all persons.

By your logic, every single survey should be thrown out.

***Especially when I don't need a study to look at a dozen popular male characters and see the objectification there.***

Saying there is objectification of women does not say that there is not objectification of men in media. You are choosing, with that statement, to ignore a result solely because it does not ask the opposing question. That does not invalidate it, that just specifies its goals.

If they were asked that question, would it have changed their answer to whether women were or were not objectified?

***As I said, I don't know for certain; however, what's being reported on doesn't sound very impartial.***

And neither do your responses to what is being reported upon.

[Spotie]

Oh, come on, man. You and I both know full well why this article exists. It's a continuation of what's been happening for years now: certain people claiming widescale discrimination against women in every facet of gaming culture. While they're going on about the over exaggerated breasts of the Amazon, they ignore the impossibly buff Dwarf. Bayonetta's sensuous moves overshadow Dante's painfully good looks. Fighting game rosters are overflowing with impossibly attractive warriors of both genders; the big deal made about Ivy isn't replicated in response to Voldo(I believe there was a joke article, though).

The argument is made that women are mistreated, be they characters, consumers, or creators. Routinely, that's expanded to imply- if not explicitly state- that women face behavior that men do not, or do so at a rate that men do not. Misogyny runs rampant in gaming.

But having spent years at GameStop, having spent years gaming, having spent years online, I've seen an abundance of men harassing each other. I've been victim and witness- though never a participant in- to some pretty extreme verbal abuse online. But whenever that's brought up, it's somehow different. It's the same response as when anyone mentions that male characters are objectified or hypersexualized, it's explained away as just being a male power trip or something.

It's not the conclusion the study comes to. That's not overly surprising, considering it's America. Everything here is sexualized, everything is objectified. It's that this (the article) is, in my estimation, yet another attempt at attacking gaming as a whole that doesn't attempt any sort of fairness.

That, rather than the opinion expressed or conclusion reached, is what I disagree with.

[Christopher]

***Oh, come on, man. You and I both know full well why this article exists.***

I honestly think it only exists to show a statistics. Nothing more.

***The argument is made that women are mistreated, be they characters, consumers, or creators.***

I think you're turning this one exploratory survey into more by linking it to the arguments of others.

---

Kind of the same way asking people what they think about same-sex marriage or the confederate flag. People are going to disagree, but that doesn't mean the data is useless.

If I was to be asked if video games tended to objectify women as sex objects, I could not in good conscience say "no" just like I couldn't for men.

If I was to be asked if more women in video games are objectified as sex objects more than men, I also could not in good conscience say "no".

Personally, I get tired of the stupid outfits, the random butt shots, and the like. I support stronger female roles. I don't support having them for the sake of having them, but I support developing them when a female persona is going to be created anyway.

Having said all that, are you going to link my thoughts on this to someone else's as well, or can my own thoughts, much like the results from this single exploratory survey, stand on its own with its own merits?

[TWB]

“If women are objectified like this it defeats the entire purpose of fighting (in Mortal Kombat). I would respect the [female] character more for having some dignity.”

I get if some people are complaining about a female character in an action game who serves no real purpose except being hot (which even then is not a big problem, I dont care) but cmon, the quote mentions Mortal Kombat. Its so over the top violent, gory and probably all the characters are way out of proportions and overly objectified that complaining about it is ridiculous

[rainslacker]

I'd say that DOA borders on objectification of women, in that it markets itself as such. But the female characters have a purpose, and they are equals to their male counterparts...because it's a game, and it has to be balanced. Objectification means that it makes something sole purpose is that of an object, usually used as a derogative. I can't really think of any game character...at least main protagonists, who fall into that category.

[mochachino]

I thought 90% percent of people in entertainment were objectified. Both male and female. A large part of Ryan Gosling and Channing Tatum's "appeal" is due directly to their sex appeal. That's just two of many examples. Both males and females are selected for musuc and entertainment based on having the right look aka can be the fantasy for millions.

I thought video games were computer ENTERTAINMENT.

[Christopher]

Notice that saying women are objectified did not say that they did not enjoy those elements of objectification. Only that they recognize that female characters were being objectified.

[jmc8888]

Yes, but school children in general are inundated with propaganda left and right. Some they absorb, which makes them dumber, others they reject, which makes them smarter.

So the question is, how much of this is from all the headlines? Which since they take everyone at face value as not out to screw them over, they tend to believe whatever is told to them, and then parrot it back. Schools also tend to also be places where everyone wants to 'fit in'. So holding an alternative viewpoint, even if it is 100 percent correct, doesn't usually work well in school. In fact that 3rd grade social bullying phenomenon seems to have effected adults on all levels now, from business to politics, to well...everything.

Hell, look at our commercials...you are not this unless you buy this. They try to shame you into buying their product.

In other words, I would of liked to see this study done BEFORE all the media coverage on this. Because the political correct crowd act like Nazi's that shame and bully everyone into not thinking like them.

Remember, at one point 90 percent of Americans were dumb enough, and I mean REALLY DUMB ENOUGH to believe attacking Iraq was right...because they supposedly did 9/11. Yep. Even adults are susceptible to propaganda. Even though people that weren't buying the bs, knew BEFORE the war, that is was all bs.

Of course, people rarely learn too. As all the funding, arming, and training of Al-Qeada for decades by the CIA, which, along with our 'friends' in Britain and Saudi Arabia caused 9/11....we repeated the same crap with ISIS, only to have ISIS go rouge as well. Yet how many morons support going to war with ISIS? Tons.

So basically what you can take from this study the most is... propaganda works. So realize that, so you can protect yourself from the morons who are out to dumb you down so you support actions that will harm you.

It would have been fun to see how much the propaganda swayed them by. Wouldn't surprise me to see it change even 50 percentage points. That's the power of propaganda.

[The_BlackHeart__]

Sex sells. The problem is that Men don't get as scandalized for everything as women do (and this goes for almost everything, we are definitely NOT wired in the same way).

Have you ever seen Black Widow from the Marvel Movie Universe shirtless? Of course not, but you can easily see Tony Stark, Thor, Captain America, Hawk Eye, Hulk or even Wolfverine, Superman, Batman top half naked at least 2 or 3 times. Do you know what feminazis focused on? Black Widow in a full latex dress. Go sell that ideology somewhere else because we are not buying anymore.

[Donnywho]

A lot of boys also believe women don't poop.

[iceman06]

Wait..wait...wait...women POOP??? Mind=BLOWN!!! LOL

[Viper7]

The real question here is why should we care?

if the developers want to objectify women or men in their games, let them. If you think there's demand for different sort of games then make / fund one.

It's stupid to go around whining about games like Senran Kagura or Scarlet blade when you're clearly not in their target audience.

[Scatpants]

I like female objectification. Women must also or they wouldn't spend all their money on outfits and shoes. It's so weird that the sex that almost seems obsessed with people paying attention to them gets all outraged when people look at their bodies. I'm pretty sure they just like having something to complain about.

[wynams]

lol lets ask 6 year olds all the important questions ... ffs these kids still believe in santa, JC, easter bunny etc.

hilarious "study"

[Ragthorn]

They are quite young to be asked these topics. Maybe because they are pure (at least I'd hope so)? I am not sure. Also, who is JC lol?

[drgkngx]

Every time there's an article that raises awareness about women being treated differently than men, the comments always devolve to "but what's about us men?!"

[ShaunCameron]

Maybe because the article was written by yet another malcontent, in this case a feminist, with too much free time to spare pushing an agenda?

[drgkngx]

If you think acknowledging the unfair portrayal of women in video games is an "agenda," I truly feel sorry for you.

[Hayabusa 117]

Yes, and every time an article raises awareness about how men are treated differently than women, no-one gives a toss, because no-one gives a toss how men are treated differently.

Of course women and going to be treated differently from men, women have tits, men have testacles, they are fundamentally biologically different, which means we have different desires, different motivations, which means we act and behave differently. Stop trying to get men to behave like women, it hasn't worked, and it never will. Look up "pathological altruism", you may find it relevant.

And there is nothing "unfair" about the "portrayal" of women in games. The men who made those games worked damn hard to make it and I think they deserve even at least a little bit of freedom of expression wouldn't you agree? And games do not "portray" women because those games characters represent individual ideas and feelings, not an entire demographic of people. No one thinks that Street Fighter's Ken portrays all blonde males as super-ripped fireball-throwing martial art experts.

If you really want things to change, than make your own game. THAT is empowerment.

[drgkngx]

"And there is nothing 'unfair' about the 'portrayal' of women in games."

Yes, there is. Women are often treated like sex objects or victims in games.

"The men who made those games worked damn hard to make it and I think they deserve even at least a little bit of freedom of expression wouldn't you agree?"

They also deserves to be criticized, if their portrayal of women are poor. And crying about these essential criticisms in a comment section won't make them go away.

It's not only important to make games that better represent women, but to discuss the how and why.

Going back to an earlier comment you wrote.

"Stop trying to get men to behave like women, it hasn't worked, and it never will."

You don't have to be a woman to respect women; you have to be a decent human being.

[Ratty]

Then don't support and play those games if it offends you.

[Crazay]

"goes against the common belief that teenage boys are titillated by scantily-clad women in games"

Boys that age are titillated by the word "titillated" because the word "Tit" in in there. Let's also not forget that boys that age get random erections when a gentle summer breeze crosses their arm for chrissake. I call jinkies on this study.

[rainslacker]

lol. yeah, I'm not sure how this study goes against that common belief. It's not even a teenage boy thing, just a matter of the biology of men. Women can be titillated as well, it's how the human raced survived before we ever became so crazy that we had to rationalize our reasons for procreation.

God, soon it's going to be evil for a man to be aroused.

[Monkey521]

Funny enough, there is an anime that just aired that deals with censorship and the idea of a country banning all perverted things :P

https://en.wikipedia.org/wi...

[SilentNegotiator]

*After* a new feminist friendly, "teach boys not to rape" sexual education course, I presume?

[Ogygian]

Pretty woman = object

Ugly, fat woman = real person with feeling and emotions

Truly pathetic.

[alti]

stopped reading at "boys". Take your condescending article elsewhere.

[feraldrgn]

It depends on the way the question was worded.
& school aged boys? Really?
"Let's ask naive young people questions & use them as official statistics".

[Jimkahn]

I just came here for the comments.

[NarfleGarthok]

"A study carried out in America has revealed that the majority of schoolboys think female characters are overly sexualised in gaming."
The very first sentence leads me to believe that this survey is BS. There isn't a school in America, that the schoolboys would think women are over sexualized in games. Most of them cant wait to see the sex scene or how much skin Laura Croft is showing.

[icerob]

I am sick and tired of "political correctness" BS..

[wannabe gamer]

Most amateur video game "journalists" think readers do not see thru their BS clickbait headlines.

[Intranquill]

School age boys find women sex objects. What a study. How about asking adult males, the largest demographic for video games instead.

[jts1891]

'School age'. That explains everything. In our current politically correct climate, crap like this is force-fed into kids, so it's no wonder they believe it.

[formanbradley]

Women are just jealous they can't look like sexy video game characters. There is a line to be drawn though... Dead or Alive being an obvious example of such.

[Hayabusa 117]

Ha! lol...scary thing is, that's probably true in some cases...

[PistolsAtDawn]

Dat indoctrination!

This just in, 99% of girls want to marry a rich good looking doctor, with a nice house and nice car...but don't worry, women are allowed to objectify..it's cool.

[WizzroSupreme]

My faith in humanity is now restored.

[ReDeviL16]

Am kinda happy, knowing the next generation of us is completely fine!

[Hayabusa 117]

It's always been fine, you've just brought into the hype that young males and the root of all evil.

[diaz_aa]

Ofcourse women and men are portrayed differently in games, because our physiological make up is different. Look up the worlds strongest women vs average in arm wrestling as an example. Now look up fastest 100m, man then women times. There is a reason men and women have separate events. Womens bodies are not made for the same reason as mens are. Im all for equality but truth be told, I can not give birth.

[Abdullahbeyond]

I don't understand women's feeling bad about this, men's are more qualified and more powerful physically to play roles as these. It's just the nature. What's wrong with that?

[N2NOther]

There are 3,477,829,638 males in the world.

Define "most."

[arbitor365]

feminist "research." Clearly they werent leading these kids on to get the answers they wanted.

Just dislike the website and move on. We dont need this buzzfeed/tumblr esque garbage in gaming journalism.

[TheJacksonRGN]

1,400 out of the millions that play. Yeah that is an accurate representation.

[Hayabusa 117]

I'm pretty sure when I was a teen I was also adamant that females don't need to be sexualized in games (hello Lara). Now I'd much rather play as a sexy female than a hulking dude, providing said sexy female isn't too annoying (but I'd rather play as armoured cyborg than either gender).

My guess is that in late childhood/early teens, a boy's sexuality is still being developed (even if they think they know...) and as such, it makes sense to me for boys to take a more balanced view towards sex.

I don't think it's likely that young teen dudes WOULD enjoy over-sexualized females in games: at that age, they're more concerned about figuring out how to appeal to REAL girls. Plus, how many young boys are going to admit to finding sexualized video game characters appealing and welcome all the stigma that follows? My guess is only a few.

So I think the generalization has always been false. Overly objectified female characters have always been intended for the adult male audience and the adult males that make the games who get tired of looking at husky stubble all the time. It's as simple as that.

I don't think they were ever meant to appeal to "young teenage boys", that's just a another generalization that's emerged due to media and sensationalist fear-mongers trying to get attention and/or control the things they don't like about that world.

Interesting that females seem to care more about gender roles in games while males generally don't give a toss. Seems like women are getting more and more sexist by the day.

I think there needs to be a qualifier for how many hours on average per week needs to be put in before someone can be considered a "gamer". "I played Call of Duty once, I didn't know what I was doing so I just spun around in circles" does not qualify as a gamer. I'm not doubting their statistics, just saying they these types of surveys/articles need to be a lot more precise when presenting their data.

[windblowsagain]

The Normal Man isn't massively muscular and would have no reason to be so.

Workouts, pumping weights,roids are not the norm.

Were they, we would all look like the rock.

[Rooted_Dust]

Even if their conclusion is true, it's neither a good or bad thing.

How a character is portrayed falls completely on artistic expression, and there's room for every kind of character under the sun.

The only thing that can/should effect this is the market.

[hiawa23]

Well, this is no surprise to anyone. Women are objectified in society, movies, music, tv, maybe in games also, but men are too. People, gamers alike are drawn to attractive people. It is nature as far as I am concerned.

I love the TR games, and it is visually pleasing playing as Laura, in part because she is a woman, and I find myself changing her clothes a lot to the skimpiest suits I can put her in.