Video Games Still Overly Sexualize Female Characters, Study Finds

A new study has found that female video game characters are still more sexualized than their male counterparts.

Indiana University media communications researcher Teresa Lynch is the lead author on the study, entitled “Sexy, Strong, and Secondary: A Content Analysis of Female Characters in Video Games across 31 Years.” She compiled data on 571 playable female video game characters in games from 1989 to 2014.

The study found that hypersexualized depictions of women, including enlarged breasts and narrow waists, was most prevalent in fighting games like “Mortal Kombat,” as well as games rated Teen and above.

Also Read: 'Tetris' Movie Producer Plans to Turn Classic Video Game Into a Trilogy

In addition, it found that hypersexualization of female characters has declined since 1995, but women in games are still objectified more than male characters, and are often seen as secondary characters.

The study specifically cites Lara Croft, who started off as a very busty woman wearing short shorts. However, the character has been updated in recent years with Croft now wearing pants and having a more realistic figure.

These depictions could be cutting into industry profits. 47 percent of gamers are reportedly female, but they tend to avoid games that feature overly sexualized female characters.

Lynch’s research also found that in 1989, only three percent of video game developers were women. On top of that, while 30 percent of the video game industry’s workforce was female, they mostly worked in low-ranking positions.

Also Read: Michael Fassbender Shirtless in New 'Assassin's Creed' Photo

“There is a dominant masculine preference and there has been toxic encounters that are gendered in nature,” Lynch told PBS. “But the game industry has been very receptive in trying to involve more women. It’s having more open conversations [about sexism] than ever before.”

The Evolution of Lara Croft and 'Tomb Raider': From Angelina Jolie to Alicia Vikander (Photos)

Alicia Vikander, fresh off her Oscar win for "The Danish Girl," has now been cast to play Lara Croft, one of the most famous and intensely debated icons in video game history.
Lara Croft was introduced to the world with the release of Eidos' 1996 video game, "Tomb Raider."
Eidos
The franchise quickly became known for its strong blend of action-adventure and platformer gameplay, as Croft navigated puzzles and obstacles to find supernatural treasures.
Eidos
Lara Croft soon gained praise among video game critics for being a tough, resourceful female protagonist in a male-dominated medium, achieving icon status alongside the likes of Mario and Link.
Eidos
However, some critics claimed that Croft was a blank slate for gamers to project their ideals onto and lacked defining characteristics of their own. Her design has also been attacked as one of the defining examples of female oversexualization in video games.
Eidos
The criticism has been shared by those involved with the franchise. Toby Gard, the developer who created Lara Croft, did not like how the character's sex appeal was being used as a marketing strategy. Gard left the franchise after making the first game and would not return for nine years.
Eidos
Angelina Jolie was also not pleased with the revealing outfits she was asked to wear when playing Croft in the 2001 "Tomb Raider" movie. Jolie claimed that Croft's image was a bad example for young girls and asked for a redesign.
Paramount
By the time Jolie returned to do a second "Tomb Raider" film, she was given outfits that, while form-fitting, were appropriate for the cave exploration that Croft was known for.
Paramount
In 2006, Toby Gard returned to the franchise to create a rebooted "Tomb Raider" trilogy with Eidos Studios. Gard co-wrote the story for the games, giving Croft a deeper backstory and a more defined personality.
Eidos
In 2013, Square-Enix took over the "Tomb Raider" series and rebooted it again, taking Croft back to her first adventure just after college to show how she became an explorer and treasure hunter.
Square-Enix
The new Croft replaced sexuality with hardship, as she found herself shipwrecked and forced to survive without food or supplies while being hunted by a murderous cult. The 2013 game also shows Croft coming to terms with killing others to stay alive.
Square-Enix
Now Alicia Vikander, who gained praise among critics and feminists alike for her thought-provoking performance in "Ex Machina," is set to put her spin on Lara Croft.
A24
Vikander's Croft will reportedly be based on the recent Square-Enix games and will aim to make Croft feel "like a real human being."
Getty Images
Twitter went into a state of reverie Monday when photos of Alicia Vikander as Lara Craft leaked on social media.

1 of 14

”The Danish Girl“ star tkes over a franchise that has long been at the heart of the debate about women in video games

Alicia Vikander, fresh off her Oscar win for "The Danish Girl," has now been cast to play Lara Croft, one of the most famous and intensely debated icons in video game history.

View In Gallery

The Evolution of Lara Croft and 'Tomb Raider': From Angelina Jolie to Alicia Vikander (Photos)

LIKE US

7DAYFREETRIAL

7
DAY
FREE
TRIAL