Tag: femfreq

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It’s not that we should censor or be down on individual women for doing things that make them feel empowered, but the larger question shouldn’t be about individuals. It should be about systems. Why do we live in a world where the easiest way to be empowered is to put your naked body on display when that’s not true for men? Why is that something we commodify? Why do we have such a limited set of options to begin with?

We Were Feminists Once author and Bitch Media co-founder Andi Zeisler in this interview, “Is Mainstream Feminism Bad for Women’s Rights?”  (via femfreq)

These are all very important questions to ask about popular depictions of female “empowerment”. Yet we so rarely see them asked, let alone treated as a systemic issue, not individual choice of a person (or fictional character).

~Ozzie

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It’s not that we should censor or be down on individual women for doing things that make them feel empowered, but the larger question shouldn’t be about individuals. It should be about systems. Why do we live in a world where the easiest way to be empowered is to put your naked body on display when that’s not true for men? Why is that something we commodify? Why do we have such a limited set of options to begin with?

We Were Feminists Once author and Bitch Media co-founder Andi Zeisler in this interview, “Is Mainstream Feminism Bad for Women’s Rights?”  (via femfreq)

These are all very important questions to ask about popular depictions of female “empowerment”. Yet we so rarely see them asked, let alone treated as a systemic issue, not individual choice of a person (or fictional character).

~Ozzie

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femfreq:

The latest episode of Tropes vs. Women in Video Games is live! 

In “Lingerie Is Not Armor,” we explore the ways in which female characters are frequently placed in wildly impractical, sexualizing outfits specifically designed to objectify them for the titillation of the presumed straight male player. We then discuss the problems inherent in linking the sexualization of female characters to notions of female empowerment, and examine what positive depictions of female sexuality and sexual desire in games might look like.

You can find a list of resources and a full transcript on our website.

Finally, the Tropes vs. Women in Video Games episode we awaited the most arrives! And it doesn’t disappoint.

Not surprisingly, Anita touches many subjects we frequently discuss on BABD, including:

~Ozzie

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
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The sad part is, Ciri’s shoes here actually look wearable compared to way too many designs we’ve seen.

Most designers not only put female warriors in high heels inappropriate for the character’s activities. They also create footwear that ignores how feet work and would require them to be broken or liquefied… because body horror is sexy?

The ubiquity of “women’s feet = high heels” thing is quite scary. Awkwardly arched, nearly vertical “Barbie” foot shape is so prevalent in portrayals of women that there’s a generation of artists who apparently think that’s how female anatomy works.

It still amuses me that parodies of Samus Smash Bros “jet boots” understand that a heel this high needs thick platform under the ball of the foot, while the original barely had any sole in front part of the shoe.

~Ozzie

Personally I love this bizarre tendency for people who are are emotionally attached to having high heels in games insist that there’s a scientific reason for Samus and other women having high heels.

Like, high heels have these great and obvious martial applications – but literally no military or martial art has ever chosen to employ them… because it would be unfair to the enemy?

– wincenworks

more about why high heels on action heroines break the suspension of disbelief in fiction | general high heels tag on BABD

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Quiet apologists have been by far the most tedious defenders of bikini armor, constantly insisting that there is some sort of great artistic genius at work behind Kojima’s design decisions.  It’s always either he’s doing some sort of genius bait and switch (that’s not genius) ploy or somehow the characterization will make up for the costume or (my personal favorite) people just need to spend hundred of hours playing every MGS game to understand the twenty-four minute trailer released to the general public.

No amount of anything is ever going to make up for this, the game hasn’t even been released yet and he’s already releasing  fondle dolls.  Oh, and since I’ve seen lots of guy’s insisting that the Snake doll will be equally fondleable and objectified – No. No it won’t.

At this point, the kindest thing that can be said has already been said on Twitter:

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– wincenworks

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