Have you ever noticed the disparity in how female characters are portrayed in your favourite video game?
If you ever did that, then you might realize our female characters, as tough and talented as they come, often have to make do with the inequality that persists in wardrobe pixels. These characters are often less adequately dressed than their male counterparts.
This stereotypical portrayal isn't just a critique of game design; it highlights an unsettling societal attitude toward women.
But let’s not merely wallow in this digital disparity. There’s a brighter side — we possess the capability and the responsibility to make a change. Welcome to ‘Design Justice,’ our guiding light in the mission to redefine the narrative surrounding female characters in video games.
Ready to hit 'start' and join the fun?
Level 1: Press Start: Introducing Design Justice in the Gaming Universe
It’s not just design; it’s justice in action. Design Justice champions a transformative approach to technology, amplifying women’s voices, people of colour, the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, and Indigenous peoples. In gaming, this can craft enriching experiences. ‘Never Alone,’ a collaboration with the Iñupiat, an Alaskan Native community, exemplifies this. "Never Alone," tells an important cultural story and provides a perspective seldom seen in the mainstream gaming industry. By placing Iñupiat values, folklore, and wisdom at the forefront, the game offers an authentic narrative that educates while it entertains.
Hidden Missions: Unpacking Gaming’s Invisible Baggage
Despite progress, the gaming industry often diminishes female characters to mere objects or rewards, using them merely to propel the male character’s narrative.
By applying Design Justice principles, we can dismantle clichés, crafting independent, complex female characters with narratives not just tied to male characters. This would guarantee authentic representation of women, enriching storytelling and elevating the gaming experience.
Level 2: The New Heroine in Town: Groundbreaking Feminist Game Design
One character that stands as a testament to this change is Aloy, the protagonist of “Horizon Zero Dawn.”
Aloy is a far cry from the sexualized caricatures and objects to be won that women are often reduced to in video games. She’s a survivor, a hero, and a woman of her own making. Her defiant dialogue, such as “I will not be worshipped! I’m not your anointed! I don’t belong to you!” underscores her independence and resistance to traditional gender roles and patriarchy. This design approach places her not as a competition against male characters but as an exemplification of what well-rounded, empowered female characters can bring to the gaming experience.
Level 3: Boss Level: Beyond the Gender Binary: Fostering Diversity and Inclusion in Gaming
It’s important to note that design justice’s quest isn’t solely about creating strong female characters. It is about advocating for diversity and inclusion within the gaming world.
With more characters like Aloy, who shatters the damsel in distress stereotype and embodies empowered femininity. So, we can foster a gaming world where every character, irrespective of gender, can don the hero's mantle.
Balancing diversity with creativity and variety is crucial. Though design justice in gaming aims for inclusivity, its strict portrayal standards might inadvertently curb designers’ imagination. Moreover, it could narrow the game diversity of titles that are sidelined and don’t meet these standards.
Why settle for another rescue mission when you have the power to rule the game?
Why play by old rules when you can create new ones?
As gamers, developers, and storytellers, we shape our virtual worlds to reflect the diversity, complexity, and equity we yearn for in reality.
So the next time you choose a game to play or recommend, remember Aloy. Remember design justice. Let’s champion games that dare to defy stereotypes and enrich us with their rich tapestry of diverse characters. Because, after all, it’s not just a game—it’s a reflection of our world, and it’s time we played a part in shaping it.
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