Girly Games Too?

Upon hearing Sheila Murphy speak about the emerging field of Video Games, I was intrigued when she mentioned the sexism and gender segregation present in most video games.  As we began the class we brainstormed a list of typical stereotypes people think of when picturing a "gamer".  Most people said nerdy, isolated, and most strikingly, male.

I was a victim of believing this stereotype because I do not know many females who engage in video games often.  Sheila Murphy noted that often games that are directed towards boys are adventurous and can be violent, whereas those games directed for girls usually revolve around secrets, puzzles, and juvenile activities that are generally more playful.  I never noticed the difference until Sheila had said something because I never thought of electronic puzzles, such as tetris, or hello-kitty games as "video-games".

I, too, fell under the impression that all video games were adventurous, violent, and mainly for men.  After listening to her lecture, I was able to have a broader and more detailed understanding of what video games were, and now know that they encompass much more than just the simulated war zones.