Recently, some hot button feminist issues have cropped up in my everyday internet romps. Feminist and Feminism is usually met with antagonistic response and anger...even violence. It is to the point where even a woman who is feminist does not want to be label as one. For me, I know I do not like being labeled with a negative term like 'feminazi' or 'feminist'. However, my reasoning is in part that I do not wish to be associated with what the word has come to mean.
Feminist
Most of our concept of what a feminist should be or what she is comes from popular media. A feminist is usually portrayed as angry, violent, liberal, and male hating. But this really only captures a fraction of feminists. Not everyone is angry, BUT we are NOT satisfied and want to change things to something that will satisfy. We don't hate men, BUT men are at fault because of their position of privilege in society.
So the facets of equality in government and recognition of my human dignity regardless of my sex and gender are the parts of feminism I support.
But I'm not "liberal" politically and I am Christian. Oh and not only Christian, but Catholic. So this puts me in a conundrum. Currently Catholics are one of the only churches that will not recognize women priests. I accept the Churches teachings on this. Because it's not a matter of JOB equality it is a matter of Sexual Differences. For a more intelligent discussion on this point, I will refer you to Peter Kreeft's lecture on Priestesses.
I am also pro-life, pro-Traditional Marriage, and pro-Catholic/Christian.
At this point, I feel that if I declare myself as a feminist I am denouncing my identity as a Catholic woman...and a gamer.
Feminism is all about Sex
There's some clever word play at hand here. Sex, in our modern society, can mean both the biological sex of a person AND the act of intercourse. I'm very tempted to link another Peter Kreeft lecture because he explains things so well, but I will summarize instead: Sex has become not something you are, but something you do.
In my view Feminists tend to be a lot more inclined to the latter definition of sex than the first. I'm talking about the Sexual Revolution, how we as a society have separated the act of intercourse with procreation.
That's why this picture is funny.
Sex is suppose to be someone you are. Being sexual doesn't mean being "sexy", it means being male or being female.
Our culture is one addicted to pleasure and the highest form of pleasure is sex. So with the new "sexually liberated woman" now able to take that pleasure without risk, suddenly pregnancy becomes a disease or an accident or a side effect of sex. The pleasure and self-pleasing is more important and trying to tell someone that they're hurting themselves by thinking this way, they get defensive.
Why this Ties into Games
Right this has a play in video games in a BIG way. When it comes to in-game content, feminists have every right to be upset. Women have every right to be upset. There are lots of parallels between the arguments thrown at "feminist gamers" and the defense of "our fun".
First off, feminist gamers are not some stereotyped feminist just because they are unhappy with the state of the industry. As consumers of entertainment women have just as much purchasing power as a man. I want to consume game entertainment but marketing, content and other unfriendly atmospheres make it difficult. Not impossible, but difficult. It won't prevent new hyper-masculine games from being produced but we'd like our chick games too...and not pink either.
Second off, women are all individuals with different tastes, JUST like any other human. This means the feminists too. As I explain, I do NOT stand by many of the principles liberal feminists and popular feminists stand for. I support women's health with the radical idea that pregnancy is not a disease and that our sexual appetites are out of control. That said, with the wide array of game genres there are some that just are not going to appeal to the feminine mind in the same way it does for the masculine mind. But this is not a BAD thing. It's an interesting challenge in design.
There are a landslide of studies on the differences between male and female brains that are quite insightful for a game designer. Particularly when faced with HOW to solve a problem or puzzle.
As a female gamer, I do not feel social shame with looking up "cheats" or walkthroughs if I'm stuck. The information in the walkthrough is like a cooperation with an experienced player and I can move on through the game without the frustration of trial and error.
To many gamers, stooping to a walkthrough shows weakness unless the game IS really hard...and poorly designed.
Third off, interacting between men and women is different than interacting with someone of your own sex. Again with the literal biological brain differences. Females are able to pick up a LOT of cues from non-verbal communication and start to find extra meaning. Male brains will usually take things at face value.
(Thus much misconception around the idea of if we like each other or not.)
In some ways, you CAN say things to gamer girls like you would say them to gamer guys. We want to be one of the guys but at the same time recognized that we are in fact female. It's a conundrum. You really have to go with getting to know the individual first before you learn their comfort level for trash talking. We also don't want to be treated as a novelty. "OMG...a girl...PLAYING VIDEO GAMES?"
It's 2011.
Last off, improving as a player in a game takes time and practice. In general, trash talking will rile up a male player and competition will encourage him to try harder. Threats of sexual assault, violence and name calling are only things that will drive a female player away. It's not because she does not have the potential to kick your ass or play as good as one of the guys, but a female's reaction to hostility is to flee. We are the traditionally weaker sex. (Please notes that there are always exceptions to this. Many women THRIVE on competition.)
So how are women to practice games with others an improve? Certainly not by participating in a tournament where a poor performance will earn nothing but mockery. She won't try again. Some conferences are out there trying to get women comfortable with playing video games and getting better at it. Usually in all female groups. Which only serves to continue the segregation between the sexes in video games.
Conclusion
Feminism is never a real pleasant topic for anyone. There are a lot of hurt feelings, hurt people, and misunderstanding in both parties. Heck, even I get annoyed at feminists and feminism. But not True Feminists who respect and support women's human dignity. We don't want to be the same as men, equality doesn't mean the same.
I am a feminist, Catholic, Pro-Life woman and a gamer.
