As with all forms of popular media, video games have the potential to influence how children perceive themselves and others. Most video games are designed by males, for males. The result is that some video games, including some of the most popular M-rated games such as the Grand Theft Auto series, include content that is misogynist and may condone violence towards women, allowing and even rewarding actions such as sex with prostitutes, rape and murder. As Doctor Karen Dill puts it, “When women are consistently shown as sex objects rather than agents, consistently depicted in demeaning and degrading ways, and consistently shown as submissive, the result is to condone and support violence against women, coercion of women, and anti-woman attitudes.”
Video games can also confirm gender stereotypes. A 2007 study showed that male characters were significantly more likely to be portrayed as aggressive (83% versus 62% of female characters) while female characters were much more likely to be portrayed in a sexualized way (60% versus just 1% of male characters.)
Some games on the market feature strong female characters such as Lara Croft from Tomb Raider. But they don't offer a healthy alternative because they are simply highly sexualized females who engage in the kind of violent, aggressive actions usually associated with male characters.
For information on promoting non-sexist games see the Special Issues for Girls section.
