On video games, pressure, and equality

[seryan]

During lunch the other day, I was bored and idly browsing the web, when I came across an article on Lara Croft from the Tomb Raider games. I skimmed the article detailing how the character was originally even more of an Indy clone, down to being a man with a bull whip and fedora, etc. (The character was changed into a woman to prevent the company getting sued.) At the bottom, were reader comments. This being Lara Croft, the discussion naturally degenerated into "Lara Croft is a bad character because it will make young girls feel inadequate if they do not look like her!" Why? "Because of the way she looks."

It appears to me that the concern is motivated by a worry that young girls will focus on only the physical appearance of the character, and desire to emulate only that aspect of her. But let's take a look at the other aspects of the character, based on the canon of the video game series alone. Lara Croft is:

• A woman who, as a young girl, survived an airplane crash in the middle of a jungle, and hiked her way out alone to safety.
• A woman who was disinherited by her wealthy family for her interest in adventuring, and therefore had to make her own way, including acquiring education, shelter, food, and the skills to do what she does.
• Independently wealthy.
• Someone who can clearly take care of themselves.
• Able to defend herself without help.
• I'd guess somewhat technically-minded, since she's able to figure out mechanically oriented ancient puzzles and traps, and I somehow doubt that in a temple in the middle of a rain forest or jungle there are handy mechanics for her vehicles, or repair shops for her weapons and gear.
• Obviously intelligent, since again she can figure out mechanically oriented puzzles and traps.

In other words, she's a strong, independent woman, exactly what you people often claim you want to see in a female role model. But instead of looking past the character's breasts, which are apparently large enough that they're hiding exactly what you want to see you're doing exactly what you think the girls playing the game will do: you're focusing on her physical appearance. Why is it, too, that this only seems to happen with female video game heroines, when the male video game heroes are just as physically stereotyped, and just as impossible? Is it felt that young girls are more susceptible than young boys? There is societal pressure to conform to a certain look, of course there is, and there always has been. There is, and has been, social, family, cultural, and religious pressure, and the pressures of fashion to look and act a certain way throughout human history. But - and I cannot stress this enough - it's not just directed at women. Equal, and in my opinion far more insidious, pressure exists upon men and boys to look and act a certain way. Just take a look at baby clothing, virtually all divided into 'masculine' and 'feminine' colors and themes. Take a look at toys. Walk into the 'boys' section, and it's all blues and toy weapons and construction vehicles. In the 'girls' section, it's all pink and cooking, clothing, and accessories. At one of my local department stores, the 'girls' toy section leads directly into the baby department, while the 'boys' leads to tools! If that is a coincidence, it is one hell of a coincidence.

In short, if you want to raise awareness about social pressure to conform to a stereotype, I think it's a good thing. I think removing the pressure to conform to a certain 'standard' is a great step towards furthering gender equality. But if you want to do it, might I suggest you do it for both genders?

Equally?