Women In Videogames

Part 1: Medium article - Is Female Representation in Video Games Finally Changing?

1) How have women traditionally been represented in videogames?

Women have typically been portrayed as submissive or humiliating characters, either as the damsel in distress who must be rescued or as minor characters with little purpose or worth.

2) What percentage of the video game audience is female?

42% of the audience is female.

3) What recent games have signalled a change in the industry and what qualities do the female protagonists offer?

Women have become more central roles in games like Tomb Raider and Dragon Age, with multiple female protagonists.

4) Do you agree with the idea that audiences reject media products if they feel they are misrepresented within them?

I disagree because many media outlets continue to flourish despite their inaccurate misrepresentations.

5) What does the writer suggest has changed regarding recent versions of Lara Croft and who does she credit for this development?

The Lara Croft game has evolved over time to make the heroine less sexualized, primarily in terms of clothing.

Part 2: Tropes vs Women in Video Games – further analysis

Title of video: 

100 word summary: 


Part 3: Anita Sarkeesian Gamespot interview

1) What reaction did Anita Sarkeesian receive when she published her videos on women in videogames? 

Anita was subjected to a storm of online harassment from people who disagreed with her viewpoint.

2) How does Sarkeesian summarise feminism?

Sarkeesian says "Feminism is the radical notion that women are human beings."

3) Why do stories matter?

 It is significant because it affects our understanding of the world in which we live.

4) How does Sarkeesian view Samus Aran and Lara Croft?

Anita says "the use of Samus Aran's body as a reward for players is a prime example of the Women as Reward."

5) How has the videogame landscape changed with regards to the representation of women?

It has changed as there is a growing range of diverse and powerful female characters

6) Why are Mirror’s Edge and Portal held up as examples of more progressive representations of women?

They are examples because both have strong female heroes who aren't overtly sexualized.

7) What are the qualities that Sarkeesian lists for developers to work on creating more positive female characters?

. Not sexualised

. Not inferior

8) What is the impact of the videogames industry being male-dominated?

It has resulted in a weak portrayal of women in video games (GTA series).

9) What did Sarkeesian hope to achieve through her ‘Tropes vs Women in Video Games’ series?

She aimed to transform the way women are portrayed in video games.

10) What media debates did Sarkeesian hope to spark with her video series?

She hoped to start a debates about how women are represented in video games.