Why do so many men (including a lot of the game producers) seem to think women don't like video games?
I've played video games since I was 4 years old and still enjoy them, I have an Xbox and I enjoy it as much as my brother does---so how did this stereo type happen?
2007-11-11 14:50:11 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Social Science ➔ Gender Studies
sorry for the multiple posts---yahoo was acting up.
2007-11-11 14:53:30 · update #1
Ronnie: Video games, fishing.. as men's things? I think not! I have played video games since I was 4 and fished and crabbed since I was 9 and will continue to do so! I'm not even a feminist but I can say this activities are not in gender black and white. I know some men who can sit and do intricate, detailed decor---I'd go stir crazy! Those same men can't bait a hook--I can! It's all in personaility.
2007-11-12 03:43:43 · update #2
Beats the heck outta me. I spent 2 years working at Gamestop, and I actually had male customers ask if there was a guy they could talk to about games, because naturally, being a girl I knew nothing! It's insulting. I can beat any guy, on any game. I have the callouses on my thumbs to prove it.And I'm kinda tired of these games with female characters in thongs and bras. They need to realize that games made by men for men, aren't what it's all about. We like blood, guts and violence just as much as the next gamer. And I don't need graphically enhanced boobs to make the gaming experience more enjoyable. And my thumbs work just as fast as thiers! But i digress, in answer to your question; Many moons ago, gamers used to be geeky and nerdy guys playing D&D in thier mom's basement, when things like the text based computer games came out it was stereotypically these same geeks and nerds that played them. It just wasn't a girl thing.
2007-11-11 15:07:39 · answer #1 · answered by melissa h 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I honestly don't think sexism is at play here. The most basic reason for this is that money is green. Not Blue or Pink! If there were a substantial market, as in money to be made, believe me, they would make games for girls. But then again, because most of the games are created by males, and males typically don't know how women think, to expect games that cater to the psychology of women from males, is unrealistic. Maybe you really need to ask how many women here typically play video games. I guarantee you if there are many, they play games for guys.
Then we must really consider the socio-psychology of women. Women are by nature more community oriented than men. Meaning that women seek companionship through socialization. Men are just the opposite. Men are naturally prone to competitiveness and solitude. I don't think it would be reasonable to expect women to socialize by means of a video game. The ones who do do that, do so in virtual reality games online.
But I am really curious to see the answers that will come from women on this
Shingoshi Dao
2007.Nov.11 Sun, 20:12 --800 (PST)
2007-11-11 15:24:48 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Back in the late 1970s, I used to play the arcade games. I got to be quite good at some of them. I think the reason more women don't play them is because they have been conditioned somehow that video games aren't for women unless they are the silly boring ones aimed specifically at girls.
2007-11-11 15:22:48 · answer #3 · answered by RoVale 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I honestly think that the stereotype got started long ago in the age of the Atari namely because at the time Game Consoles were aimed at Boys and their Dads wheras most stuff aimed at girls were Barbie and Easy Bake Ovens (those things are Cool) and most Arcade games were in unsavoury places that Good Girls did not visit.
2007-11-11 15:01:01 · answer #4 · answered by Loop 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have no clue but you're right... it's too much of a generalization to say that women don't like video games. I've played video games since I was in grade two or so and I've always enjoyed it! =) I used to always play video games with my older brother... like those multi-player games! And I love adventure games as well! But I usually play games with cute characters in it, like the Nintendo characters (yoshi, kirby, toad, banjo, kazooie, mario, luigi, donkey kong, peach, daisy, shy guy, paratroopa, birdo... and the list goes on, lol) and nothing too violent. And I'm a senior highschool student now but I still love playing video games in my spare time.
2007-11-11 14:57:22 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I am not an X boxer or anything that costs to much extra money however I love the Myst series and I play Guildwars pc online as well as webkinz with my niece.
2007-11-12 02:55:53 · answer #6 · answered by Blessed Rain 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You know! They act like we just sit around, pain our nails, and bake cookies. I've been playing since I was four.
Especially since the video game industry is male dominated and geared towards men, I guess they think we would want no part of it.
2007-11-11 15:17:10 · answer #7 · answered by lorrnae 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I imagine they do a lot of market research and they've found out that men (and boys) play video games a lot more on AVERAGE than women (and girls).
But it looks like they market significantly to girls, too.
2007-11-11 14:59:05 · answer #8 · answered by Steve-O 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Globalizing and Society makes it that way, cause its rare to see a woman do things that a lot of men like to do.
2007-11-11 15:38:16 · answer #9 · answered by Mikey Y 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, if women like video games so much no one is stopping them from buying one. Where is the stereotype? All I am seeing here is anecdotal data.
2007-11-11 15:17:41 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋