why scantily-clad warrior females are not a question of biology, you silly bints

[keep_counting]

As a former (and still occasional) gamer, and avid fantasy-fan, this article was pure gold for me to find:

for anyone still wondering, yes, women can wear full armor too

I found it through another brilliant article, concerning the 2011 Marvel movie Thor, which is also a great read for anyone even remotely interested in feminism and the potrayal of women in todays media:

is Thor a feminist movie? (Yes)

Comments

[novindalf]

That was fascinating! I've never been a gamer, but I have noticed how skimpy female game characters' outfits are, and the blatant sexualisation was one of the reasons for it.

I also think I need to watch Thor now, despite having no real interest in superhero films... =P

[keep-counting.livejournal.com]

Well, Thor is actually a pretty good choice then, as you can always enjoy it for the fantasy-like element and the pretty costumes ;) it (obviously) has a fair deal of Nordic Mythology, which is another reason why I've always loved it so much

[novindalf]

I was going to get it out the library last night, but I got there too late and it was closed. Gonna get it today instead =D

[keep-counting.livejournal.com]

Hope you enjoy it! :)

[kilodalton]

Excellent articles! I particularly liked the Thor one - I saw (and liked!) the movie and didn't even notice that! (Which, I suppose is to its credit - absence of an expected reaction, and all that!)

[keep-counting.livejournal.com]

I didn't notice it either, apart from thinking that Jane's t-shirt during the fighting-scene was cute: as the article points out, maybe these people shouldn't even be given points for it, because it's just how it should be. Most of the time its not even consciously sexist, it's just become so normal, especially in movies, that they just do it anyway. And that's actually even more upsetting IMO

[kilodalton]

Yeah it's such an engrained double-standard that I think we go along with it now without ever even thinking about it - which is pretty scary =(

[ice-axel.livejournal.com]

I didn't really like Thor (as a movie itself) but I agree about the ridiculous amount of sexualisation that happens to women in the media, whether it's fictional characters in games (hell they'll wear tough armour but their cleavage and legs MUST be on show).

In a similar horrifying rant, I hate how in work (I work in WH Smiths), I can't sell an Xbox magazine to anyone under the age of 15 due to a legal rating, however, copies of the magazine "Nuts" or "Zoo"? sure. I had to sell like 20 copies to a group of 13 year olds yesterday, I was mortified and very nearly used my right to refuse to sell on them because they were only doing it for the whole "Are you brave enough to buy this from a girl cashier?" thing. Ugh

[keep-counting.livejournal.com]

Bah, see, there's just moments when it becomes ridicolous. I had a conversation with my dad about something similar the other day: the violence-sex ratio on television. I mean, people would much rather that their kids see someone shoot a gun, than a bit of naked skin. And while I don't think small children should be exposed to sexual stuff either, whats worse? A natural, human act or violent killing?

[ice-axel.livejournal.com]

the amount we are desensitised to violence now is utterly ridiculous, I agree : /