8 Ugly Problems About Gender Representation The Gaming Industry Won't Admit

8. Men Are Often Portrayed As Emotional Introverts

This is an issue that has plagued the industry for many years now, with only a small minority of titles defying convention and introducing male characters free from being unable to convey emotional vulnerability. One of the greatest games of the last generation, 'The Last of Us' gifted audiences with Joel, a grief-stricken father trying to survive in a world he doesn't wish to be a part of. The title's nature in itself was morally ambiguous, but Joel's paternal attitudes were portrayed very honestly. Though it may come as a surprise to many, Gears of War can actually be looked at as being a satire of typical fictional depictions of soldiers, as buffness and uncompromising manliness come to be the two predominant character traits of Marcus and his squad. It's very self-aware, though I sometimes get the feeling that intention is lost on a great deal of the audience. Again, with games like Call of Duty and Battlefield we rarely get to see the psychological after-effects of warfare. Spec Ops The Line's Heart of Darkness inspired take on warfare was a welcome refreshment, but gaming still seems to instil the idea that warfare is without emotional consequence. Even when it does attempt to illustrate the psychological toll, it's either brushed over entirely or written unconvincingly. The problem with most titles is that male portrayals confine themselves to the societal norms of a typically 'masculine' character. As this continues, the art form only has the effect of perpetuating these damaging norms.