Home Gaming Feminist Frequency tackles female combatants in its best video yet

Feminist Frequency tackles female combatants in its best video yet

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Anita Sarkeesian tackles female combatants in new video

A lot of people don’t like Anita Sarkeesian. I’m not going to debate that. I’ve been an avid follower of hers and Feminist Frequency since its inception, but even I’ve found myself missing some of the newer instalments she’s made in her popular “Tropes vs. Women in Videogames” series. Some of the main criticisms of the first season were directed at the sometimes one-sided arguments Sarkeesian presented, with not enough ample examples of good representations being considered.

I’ve not followed the entirety of the second season (shorter, more to the point videos which kicked off in January), but I have to admit that her latest is easily the best one yet. And it tackles an argument that feels almost age old now: Are woman too difficult to animate?

This sarcastic response spawned from Ubisoft’s response to the exclusion of woman in Assassin’s Creed Unity back in 2014, and has been a talking point ever since. In her latest piece, Sarkeesian uses this as a platform to not only dispel the ridiculous notion that animating a woman is mountains of more work, but also to presents an interesting discussion of the role of female combatants in videogames.

You might assume that violence against women in videogames might provoke a stance of no tolerance from Sarkeesian, and you’d be wrong. As she so eloquently fleshes out in the video, violence against woman (and by all respects, men) makes sense when said violence isn’t gendered. As an example, Sarkeesian cites the inclusion of woman in Call of Duty and BioShock Infinite as strong, since the violence perpetuated with them fits with the idea of a female combatant. You fight, and kill, these enemies because they’re on the opposing team – not because they’re women.

“In Assassin’s Creed Syndicate both the player’s gang and enemy gangs have rank and file female members that fight alongside the men.”

As a counter, Sarkeesian uses examples from Saints Row 3 and Hitman: Absolution as examples where the sex of your enemies is used primarily to sexualise the act of killing, which is meant to illicit a sense of arousal which is then associated with violence. This is where a serious problem lies, according to Sarkeesian, and is a bad example of inclusion of any minority in videogames.

“Whenever female combatants are clothed in sexualising attire it sets them noticeably apart from other enemy units. It’s intended to make players’ encounters with them sexually titillating, and that’s particularly troubling considering that those encounters involve fighting and killing those characters.”

It’s an incredibly thoughtful entry into the long-running series that has once again piqued my interest in Sarkeesian and her team’s evaluation of tropes in videogames. If this episode is any indication, this new season takes to heart the constructive criticism the first got, presenting a more balanced argument to help praise inclusion where it’s done right, and further expose other cases where sexism and all it encompasses is blatantly on display.

Feel free to sound off below with your own views on the video and its messages below. Keep it respectful and constructive.

 

Last Updated: July 29, 2016

35 Comments

  1. Why the hell would I listen to that… “Feel free to sound off below with your own views on the video and its messages below. Keep it respectful and constructive.”

    Uhm, sorry. I meant good show old chap!

    Reply

  2. SentientSlug

    July 29, 2016 at 13:44

    I really really don’t trust her at all. Remember she has lied about numerous things. Please do not make the mistake of thinking that she is doing this for a good cause. She is a con artist. there is some classic footage of her from the past. here is a great video to get started on.

    I also dont think the sexualisation of female OR male characters is always such a massive problem. Should all female characters just be asexual drones?

    Reply

    • Kromas GG

      July 29, 2016 at 13:57

      Well if she keeps it up she is going to need a sexual drone to fullfill her needs (if she even has any). 😛

      Reply

      • Darren Peach

        July 31, 2016 at 20:50

        Dude, That does not help our cause. Keep it respectful. Although it is funny as fuck.

        Reply

      • Darren Peach

        July 31, 2016 at 23:32

        I’m not a fan of video games… And to think the author of this article follows her. A gaming website where the whole premise of it’s existence is about everything video games and the lifestyle that comes with it. Lots of ambiguity in this whole thing. Also, It comes across as seriously disingenuous.

        Reply

        • Darren Peach

          July 31, 2016 at 23:33

          Somehow seems relevant and a possible outcome.

          Reply

    • Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0

      July 29, 2016 at 13:58

      Disabling comments on her videos is probably for the best

      Reply

  3. Kromas GG

    July 29, 2016 at 13:51

    Using Saints Row as an example for this is like using South Park as an example of anti semitism.

    She is really a piece of work.

    Reply

  4. Deceased

    July 29, 2016 at 14:15

    { Edited }
    Oh wait, not allowed to say she’s a fraud, my bad

    Reply

  5. Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0

    July 29, 2016 at 14:18

    No, she has problems with how women look in games but men that aren’t realistic is fine? Talk about both sides. She’s attacking the artistic direction studios take. It’s their choice and if you don’t like it don’t play it. She probably high fived herself after the whole Overwatch debacle. Also I can’t stand the sound of her voice nor her constant smug expression

    Reply

    • Darren Peach

      July 31, 2016 at 20:28

      Hey Dude. I agree. She is a charlatan that is profiting off controversy. As a artist, I honestly hate the fact that someone who has no clue thinks they can hijack my profession and demonize it.

      Reply

  6. Kromas GG

    July 29, 2016 at 14:22

    This is Anitas thought process. Do something that makes people mad and wait for a extemist vocal minority to threaten her and then usethat MINORITY to prove the point she was making about the majority.

    Reply

  7. Spy Master Tokashi

    July 29, 2016 at 14:30

    Feminazi … ugh …

    Reply

  8. zerogreen

    July 29, 2016 at 14:33

    *sigh*

    Reply

  9. HvR

    July 29, 2016 at 14:42

    Double work doesn’t mean difficult or impossible, it means double work, 2 times the work, 2 times the cost.

    What this is debatable form project what this translates to but it should be up to the developers to decide if it worth and if it will increase their player base and profits.

    Historical context is important in some games; if I would be able to eat a magical healing hotdog in Ass Creed the immersion would be broekn up to the point where I would put down the game.

    Battefield 1 is probably getting a skip from my side because the chucked historical context in most aspects.

    If I had the option to Lara Croft to Larry Craft I would just be as miffed if female option and story channel in the ME Andromeda is going to be cut.

    Reply

  10. konfab

    July 29, 2016 at 14:46

    So killing attractive woman is bad, but killing ugly woman is fine according to the queen of all third wave feminists.

    Does this mean that I can finally make my dream game:
    Moby Dick: Whale Hunter.

    Reply

  11. Darren Peach

    July 29, 2016 at 15:50

    Too bust to worry about this…………………..
    http://richleighandco.com/wp-content/uploads/Angry-Meme.jpg

    Reply

  12. BakedBagel

    July 29, 2016 at 17:27

    Are we in 2014 again?

    Reply

  13. The Order of the Banana

    July 31, 2016 at 18:48

    Anita is without a doubt one of the biggest scam artists in gaming today!

    Reply

  14. The Order of the Banana

    July 31, 2016 at 18:54

    Anyone else notice how the quality of these videos have gone even further down the toilet now that #FullMcIntosh was axed from FemFreq? FullMcIntosh is undeniably a retard, but you can’t fault him on his ability to squeeze out a decent production through his colon.

    Reply

  15. Darren Peach

    July 31, 2016 at 20:36

    No-one in the article above is qualified to offer a opinion on the ease or relative difficulty of animating in any way whatsoever. Not in the slightest….

    Reply

  16. Darren Peach

    July 31, 2016 at 20:41

    I honestly can’t help thinking that the inclusion of woman in violent video games will ultimately become a scapegoat in the future. Please note me saying this…

    Reply

  17. Darren Peach

    July 31, 2016 at 23:42

  18. Darren Peach

    July 31, 2016 at 23:51

    This applies….

    Reply

  19. Darren Peach

    August 1, 2016 at 00:03

    I challenge anyone that thinks this woman is intellectually worthy of their time to watch a few of here videos and then go watch a few YouTube videos of the man she attacks after he died. Then we can talk. Problem with the youth is they think they know everything without actually knowing anything….

    High moral character is not a precondition for great moral accomplishments.

    Reply

    • The Order of the Banana

      August 1, 2016 at 18:01

      Disgusting! I already thought she was a turd, but now I’ll readily throw in the c-word.

      Reply

  20. ILAM

    September 30, 2016 at 02:01

    Anita doesn’t want women being women combatants, she wants women being men combatants

    Reply

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