Op Ed [Dec 18, 2011, 1:29 pm ET] – Share – Viewing Comments
Kotaku - Nerds and Male Privilege.
The idea that perhaps the way women are portrayed in fandom is aleetle sexist is regularly met with denials, justifications and outright dismissal of the issue. So regularly, in fact, that there's a Bingo card covering the most common responses. Part of the notion of male privilege in fandom is that nothing is wrong with fandom and that suggestions that it might benefit from some diversity is treated as a threat.
But what is that threat, exactly?
Bhruic wrote on Dec 18, 2011, 13:54:
My annoyance with the whole thing is - why is this a problem? When you design a facial mask product, you do so with the knowledge that the majority of people that use it will be women. Sure, maybe some men do, but you recognize that's not your primary market. So you design and advertise your product accordingly. Game companies do the same thing, they aim their products at their target market.
I'm inclined to agree, with a couple of caveats. Firstly, I'm their target but as I said, this turns me off their game. Secondly, and more importantly, it's not so much the games that are the problem so much as the gamers. The comic book shop example given is an example. I bet the level of grief (and misguided White Knighting) that female gamers on CoD is horrific.
I read an article by a female blogger of note about why many comics are sexist a while back, I think Cracked linked to it. I'd love to link to it but I can't find it now, I'll give a cookie to anyone who can.
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