I recently discovered the world of video games, and I regret not discovering it sooner. After spending an embarrassing amount of time in the Shapiro Undergraduate Library's computer and video game archives, I treated myself to an Xbox Series S console during the Black Friday sale last November. Since then, I've spent most of my free time playing video games, and I can't help but think back to all the time I used to be able to spend playing.
People primarily view video games as “boy toys,” and manufacturers have directed their marketing primarily toward men. The gender gap in gaming is rapidly closing, with industry reports showing that in 2022, 46% of players worldwide will be women. It's time that gaming is no longer stereotyped as being for boys and more women can embrace and enjoy gaming without facing stereotypes.
Video games have a history of sexually objectifying female characters, which has contributed to the alienation of female viewers. Analysis of in-game content reveals that traditionally male-oriented genres have more sexualized characters than role-playing games. Research shows that men who play video games with overly sexualized female characters develop sexist attitudes toward women in real life, even outside of the game.
The rise in female gamers has forced the gaming industry to adapt to accommodate the growing female user base, and some companies are seeing greater success than others. My favorite video game is Fortnite. Fortnite has been successful in attracting and retaining female users by creating more female skins and promoting an inclusive environment. Recently, new girlfriend TikTok trends celebrating female gamers have emerged, such as “Fortnite Girlfriend,” where a man posts a clip of his girlfriend playing Fortnite. This trend is quite healthy. The girls, like any other beginners, struggle to learn and play the game, but their boyfriends support and encourage them. By proactively empowering female gamers in this way, the industry can maintain its growing popularity among women.
There has been a lot of negative stigma around gaming, especially that video games can lead to violence. This largely revolves around violent video games, and researchers are generally divided on whether these games increase aggression and violent behavior. However, there is no correlation between violent acts and video games as some politicians and media outlets claim.
In 2019, former President Donald Trump cited video games as one of the main causes of mass shootings. Many people quickly disputed this claim, as violent video games were not the cause of the horrific events that occurred in the United States. Mass shootings are caused by people who acquire guns and continue these acts. Nevertheless, Congress has been working in recent years to pass laws that would require ID checks for the purchase of “Mature Only” and “Adult Only” rated games. However, the bill has not yet been passed because it is believed to violate the First Amendment. Rather than trying to pass restrictive laws that blame mass shootings on children's access to violent video games, Congress should focus its efforts in other areas.
While the world is trying to find fault with video games, I guarantee that all the negative chatter about games will be worthless if you can find positivity just by playing the games you enjoy. To do. The Cleveland Clinic found that playing video games slowly increases brain matter and may improve cognitive function. A balance is needed, as too much screen time can have negative effects, but video games are still an exciting time-killing activity. Unlike watching TV, video games require active participation, thinking and controlling what's in front of you rather than mindlessly consuming it. I find myself mostly scrolling through social media on my phone while watching shows or movies. When you play a video game, you strive to complete in-game quests and activities, and when you log off, you feel like you've completed a fulfilling activity.
What I love most about gaming is being able to connect and play with new people and old friends. Now, when I want to hang out with friends without going out, we all log in online and play for a few hours while catching up. Lately, I've started playing video games with my cousins, who I rarely talk to, and I've been able to connect with them outside of the online world.
Online video games create a conducive environment for making friends and provide an avenue for developing friendships. It's a friendly environment for people who have social anxiety and find it difficult to meet others in person, but are able to participate online. As virtual methods become more accepted for work and school, we should also recognize the benefits of socializing virtually, especially for those experiencing challenges in person.
For female gamers, it can be difficult to feel accepted in a predominantly male-dominated online gaming community. Research shows that many female gamers prefer to identify as gamers without using gender categories and avoid sharing their gender when playing online games to avoid harassment. Several women stated that they had good experiences playing the game in groups until it became clear that they were women. For women to see gaming as a safe and welcoming activity, male players need to be more accepted and let go of sexist stereotypes. This starts with the industry minimizing the sexualization of women in games and demonstrating a desire to retain female gamers. If the game itself respects women, it will incentivize players to respect women as well. Several women in the study said they had an overall positive gaming experience, especially in games that didn't oversexualize the female body.
For most people, video games have more positives than negatives, which correlates with the success of the gaming industry. There are many non-violent options including strategy, survival, sports, simulation, and casual games. Sometimes I take a mental break by playing PowerWash Simulator. This is strangely cathartic.
Video games are also easily accessible, as you can download them to your computer, mobile phone, or purchase a gaming console. If you don't need the best system, you can find games and consoles at almost affordable prices. Once you purchase a game, you can play it until you get tired of it.
Video games are fun for everyone, and that really applies to girls too. Whether you play alone, with friends, online or in person, creating and creating your own games is a great hobby with many benefits.
Lara Tinawi is an opinion columnist who writes about campus culture and daily musings. Contact her at ltinawi@umich.edu.
