I am constantly amazed and frustrated with the sexism surrounding video games. I'm not talking about the mis/under-representation of women in games. That's one of those big issues I don't feel like analyzing just yet. My frustrations stem from the parents buying games for their kids.

As the former manager of a used media store, and a current employee at Best Buy, I'm no stranger to being on the retail side of games. I'm also no stranger to the skewed notions that most parents have of games; a problem that I hope I'm helping to correct. They seem to think that every game not featuring Frogger, Pac-Man, or a Disney logo is Grand Theft Auto. I can understand that parents want to keep their children safe from obscenities, but what really gets under my skin are the parents who feel the need to keep their daughters safe from "boy games".

Perhaps the rampant ignorance can best be summed up by an exchange between me and a parent:
Mother "Do you have any games for girls?"
Me "Games for girls?"
Mother "You know, princesses and things like that."
Me "Girls can play all sorts of games."
Mother *rolls her eyes*

The problem is that video games have become another medium for dictating the "proper" attitudes and actions of girls. It's bad enough that this is already being done by TV, magazines, and film. Now games are just another molding tool. What's worse is that it's the parents doing it.

Day after day I see parents buying sports games, racing games, and shooters for their youngs sons, but passing them over in favor of Dance Dance Revolution and Bratz for their daughters. You should see their faces when they find out that I play DDR (25 and male). Apparently dancing is for girls, though it's more like stepping on arrows. Of course there are those instances in which the daughters requested those games, but quite often I'll see a mother pleading with her daughter to choose something "more girly".

Females are becoming a bigger and bigger portion of the gaming community every day. I dread the idea of them being pigeon-holed with more Barbie and fashion games. Please, if you have the opportunity, make every attempt to keep "girly" games out of the hands of girls. Nobody needs them, and they only drive the wedge between male and female even deeper.

Most recent blog posts from Brian Rowe...
Still waiting on Warhammer Waiting forever A case of corporate influence

Feedback
	honestgamer - November 23, 2005 (10:29 PM) You make a valid point. One reason girls don't play games as much, I think, is that when they do, they're asked to play Barbie games and such. Why should they bother? Given the choice between Barbie games and a real Barbie doll, wouldn't most girls choose a doll they can actually hold and dress themselves?
	EmP - November 24, 2005 (04:27 AM) VM's a girl. She only plays DDr and Pokemon.
	pup - November 24, 2005 (10:25 AM) There's nothing wrong with anyone playing DDR and Pokemon. My point is referring to parents who "force" certain games on their daugthers because the games seem girl-oriented. These are the same parents who will be telling their kids that girls shouldn't ride skateboards, learn how to fix a car, pursue trade-skill jobs, etc. You get the point. I'm not saying to take Barbie and Bratz games off the shelf either. These titles obviously have a fan base. Unfortunately, I have seen parents purchase these games in direct opposition to the kids' pleas. Apparently Ratchet & Clank is a boy-only game because it has a big gun on the cover. Yeah, chicken guns are real manly.
	honestgamer - November 24, 2005 (12:08 PM) A lot of parents just think they know their kids better than the kids know themselves. "I don't want to buy you that game. It has a gun in it. You'll play it a few days, then get sick of it because you can't buy Ratchet a new thong or purse. Here, how about this cute little Bratz game instead?" Parents just don't want to have bored kids one week later, because that costs money or forces them to endure whining. It's a joint effort between whiny kids and weary parents, I suppose.
	Genj - November 25, 2005 (08:45 PM) I'm more girly than VM and I love playing violent, gory M-rated games.
	bluberry - November 27, 2005 (08:44 AM) That's not saying much genj, most of us are.
	Genj - November 27, 2005 (07:50 PM) =(
	lasthero - November 29, 2005 (12:52 PM) VM's a girl. I dunno. I still think she's a Russian dude named Stan.
	aaaa - March 05, 2006 (08:02 PM) the parents should be made to play the games they pick for their {little baby girls} i think they should just shutup and let them pick what ever they want to play.