Since it was written, a new console generation and a new Grand Theft Auto game has been released. So far, my criticism of the representation of females are no less true in the newer game, however, and I might write something about that, too, when I get a bit further into it.
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Sexism in video games has been something of a topic lately.
Well sexism in general I guess, the video game part has been added by the communities on my favourite gaming websites.
Anyway.
I'm glad this issue is being addressed, of course - as a woman I think sexism is a terrible thing since it rarely works to my advantage. As a female "gamer" (let's use this term loosely, as I've only been playing games for a couple of years, stuck to the current generation consoles and haven't had time to play EVERY GAME OUT THERE just yet) I haven't really noticed any sexism in my games. Perhaps this problem is so deeply embedded in society already that I don't even notice being discriminated against, perhaps I'm cute enough to be treated nicely by men and consequently blind to any discriminations against the female sex and so not bringing this view into popular culture, or perhaps my excellent taste in games has shielded me from the sexist displays from game design and communities, but I do not see sexism in games as a big problem.
In fact, the only noticeably sexist game I can point out from my collection right now is Grand Theft Auto IV.
This is why.
While I never completely finished this game, after considerable game time I never reached a point where I could hang out with a female character as a friend. There are several male characters you can phone up to go drinking, have dinner, go bowling or head to a strip club with, but if you should ever wish to do any of these things with a female character, you need to ask her on a date. In other words, it is implied that spending time with a woman is the same as seeing her as a love interest.
Please tell me this isn't true, since I might have to cut all ties with my male friends if it is.
(sorry boys, I'm taken.)
Another thing is, women are seen as quite passive in this game. Early on, your cousin Roman's girl, Mallory, is caught cheating with one of the antagonists. How do you react? You get mad - at him. Her betrayal - or possible motives - isn't even mentioned.
Look, it takes two to tango. Feel free to kill the guy and throw him in the river - he had it coming after all - but to act as if the woman has no responsibility whatsoever? Really?
Now let's consider the named female characters in the game (at least as far as I got). Mallory, Roman's love interest. Michelle, your love interest (for a while, whether you like her or not). Elizabeta, drug dealer who eventually snaps. Kate, love interest. I suppose there's someone's wives, daughters and girlfriends here and there, but that's my point: that's the role of women. We are girlfriends, wives and daughters. We are easily manipulated and suppressed, we do as we're told and don't have the authority or strength to say no. We have no responsibility for our own actions and are not worth a man's time to get to know and hang out with.
Of course, there is also the attitude of the characters, but this is a minor point to me. Yeah, sure, all the talk of nice american titties might be somewhat offensive and discriminating, but a game could easily challenge a view expressed by its characters, and allow them to mature and develop. I felt Saint's Row 2 (of all strange, immature, ridiculously fun games) did this fairly well with its treatment of Shaundi, who seems to always deliver despite your (playable character's) often dismissive attitude towards her.
Please note that I still think GTA IV is a pretty great game. Sure, some checkpoints during missions would have been a MAJOR improvement, and the controls are awful, but it's still great fun, the gritty realism works, and it really is beautiful. Would the game have suffered if you had one or two female un-romanceable potential buddies? Not at all. Would it have made a noticeable difference? Possibly not.
