Women Role Models: Are there any strong female motivators?
I’ve been throwing this idea around for a while, especially after my friend commented that the motivation in a lot of movies and video games are fathers or husbands or brothers, etc. We were discussing Lara Croft and Angelina Jolie in Tomb Raider and my friend pointed out that many women heroes are generally motivated into action by what their fathers did, and not their mothers. Why is it female characters cannot have strong females in their lives? I can’t think of one female character who is taking after her mother, or sister, or aunt or other female relative. And I think it should change.
There are plenty of female characters out there. There’s even a whole Wikipedia site on female protagonists. So why aren’t the women out there doing stuff for their female relatives? Folklore sort of has a female who is motivated by her mother, but only because her mother disappeared. Lara Croft Legends whole story is based on finding on what happened to her mother. But no female character says “I’m doing this because my mom is an aviator,” or “My mom is an archaeologist so I’m off to find dinosaurs” or whatever motivation that people have. They’re generally off to find them because they somehow disappeared, and not because they disappeared in the middle of the jungle while researching a new type of poisonous snake.
How many video game characters, male or female, do you know that went on the war path because someone killed their mother? I can’t think of one. I also can’t think of one female who gets her “can-do” attitude, her “kill or be killed” demeanor, or her love for adventure from her mother. For example, in Fatal Frame, the female lead goes on the hunt to find her missing brother. Granted, she gets her ghost-killing ability from her mother, but that’s not what the story is about. In almost every video game (I’m sure someone will point out a game I overlooked that has a female motivation) the female character is always looking for, or doing something for, or fighting for, a male, not another female.
I’m not sure why video game developers choose male motivators to female leads. Maybe because they don’t think guys will play a game that has a lead female character and a female mentor. Maybe because they don’t realize that women are just as strong of motivators as men. But I think that’s crap, either way.
So I say this, to video game makers: get off your asses! There are plenty of women out there who are incredibly strong role models. Women out there are in the armed forces, doctors, fire fighters, martial art masters, just to name a few. You can make a female character be motivated by another female. You can make a FPS or RPG or any other shoot-em up kill ‘em dead game with a female lead and a female mentor. And I can tell you, it won’t affect your sales at all. In fact, you might make some more money because there will finally be a game that women and girls completely relate with.
I’ll keep this in mind for when I’m designing games
Also: funny that you mention Fatal Frame. The lead character in the sequel (Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly) is motivated by the disappearance of her twin sister. That’s the only one that I can think of right away, though.
I knew someone would point out a game. But I think it’s sad that it’s an untapped gaming story potential.
Agreed! I think it’s great that you’re putting the idea out there, though. You never know who might come across this post, and maybe your idea will strike a chord with a game designer.
(And I totally pointed it out just because you mentioned that someone probably would.)
(And I totally pointed it out just because you mentioned that someone probably would.)
Which is why two heads are better than just my tired old brain!
i think you make some really good points, but we still have to consider the fact that the lead characters are very strong females. it puts them in a position of power, because, as you say, they’re always “looking for, or doing something for, or fighting for, a male…” so i think you could also look at it like the (weak, cowardly, helpless?? haha) male needs help and the female comes to the rescue. and generally looks smokin’ hot doing it, which makes her even more of a hero
“How many video game characters, male or female, do you know that went on the war path because someone killed their mother?”
I don’t know if you have seen the movie “Unleashed” with Jet Li but he went on war path because of wrongful death of his mother…
But in general I know what you mean and great idea… never really thought of it before to be honest…
miss howie long are you a fellow Raiders fan or just a Howie fan in general? I will admit though I never played Fatal Frame but there are not of video games where the female herione is taking after her mother or being using a female role model for her inspiration to kick some tail*LOL*
i actually just grabbed the name from my boy’s gamertag, howie long haha. i was thinking about upgrading to something more original but it kind of stuck. but nah… tampa bay all the way!!
ahhh shakes head–the bucs that was not a pleasant superbowl for my boyz*LOL*
I think you make a good point, but here’s an interesting point as well ; I have not felt like anything is lacking in my gaming experiences. I see the merit in the idea, but I don’t feel like I need it. That said, I would still buy a game backing that idea if it came out. . . so get to making, developers! : )
Advent, I agree. I don’t feel like I’ve personally lost out on a gaming experience, but I do think that it’s an untapped resource. I think it would bring a really great and unique view of gamers and women.
I also wonder if it has to do with what developers have been motivated by in their lives. Perhaps many of them have been inspired by their father, grandfather, cool uncle, etc. If we get some more female developers in there we might see some more female motivators. I’m not saying that there aren’t men who are motivated by or similar to their mother/sister/aunt etc., but that perhaps many of them are not in the gaming industry or it is not seen as being as acceptable/marketable. Just something to ponder. My psychology degree always comes back and makes an appearance in my video game analyses. Haha.
“wonder if it has to do with what developers have been motivated by in their lives” Hmmm… that is a good thought Ahhh a psychologist I see care to give an opinion on why some males play female characters? I am interested in your “psychological” opinion on the issue….
ah that answers my question to another thread. Ok Advent I really am not tooo looney–just alittle here and there to spice life up*LOL* But you do bring up a good point in that alot of game developers are male so it would seem reasonable that most of the motivating factors in games are male role models.
Though I must say my mom is the biggest motivator in my life on a side note, that woman raised 5 kids ( two not hers) for 6 years on less than 30K a year. And when we got old enough and big enough that she couldn’t handle some of us guys physically, she did the next best thing and hired a hit man to do all the enforcement in the house
two guesses who that was, since I was the oldest and the biggest.
Hehe.. cheers to your mother Rav.. if you were to develop a game would you base it off of the female motivation you’ve had in life?
yeah my moms the shit*LOL* That woman taught me alot in life. You know I never have really thought about it. But then again you could develope a game so that you could have female motivation if your a female character or male motivation for a male or even have a scenerio where you could determine your own motivation. Kinda like how you could choose things in Mass effect that came out later in the game
LOL did you answer the question??
I was rather vague wasn’t I
I would like to develope a game where the person had complete control about everything in his/her life up to the start of the game. Have it open ended so that your decisions affected what happened and where you go from there. You remember those books back in the day, where if you chose to fight the monster you turned to page 5 and if you chose to run away you turned to page 10. I would like to do something like that. So that there are multiple endings and its your judgement and actions that determine the course of the game. And I mean total pre-game details alot like Oblivion but with more depth. with the option of course to add in your own data. And have the computer smart enough that it could work off of added in data as well as preset data.
A deeper pre-game setup than Oblivion, eh? Ambitious. Don’t forget, then, to figure out a way to keep people interested first the past half hour which will all be setup for your character. I know a lot of people who wouldn’t even customize in Oblivion because it took too long; they would choose a precreated class or etc. Just don’t overdo it! Details and choices are good, but you don’t want to lose people with too much of a good thing.
Speaking of having choices and chance for multiple endings, who’s excited for Fable 2? *Raises hand.*
Geez Rav I suppose that would be the ultimate videogame “computer smart enough that it could work off of added in data as well as preset data” if it kept interest and all like Advent suggests…
I bet you they can make a game like that but if they did NO ONE would ever buy another videogame b/c they can vary that one soo much
FABLE AHHHHHHH!!! Now that was a game that almost truly destroyed my life soo much fun but took lots of my time *Smiles runs and hides from Fable*
Advent what kinda game motivation would you use? Would you base it off any particular experience in life?
I didn’t respond for a while because I’m honestly not sure. Although odds are I wouldn’t base it off of life experience, I tend to lean towards heavily fantasy-influenced games and if I were to brainstorm I don’t think any of my ideas would be very typical. Besides. . .although I love and admire my mother, I always looked up to my father. Go figure, right? : )
I was always totally hooked on they character make up of a game, I spend hours just on baldurs gate where all you can pick from are different portraits and voices. Much less like on Oblivion where you can change everything up, Yeah I guess I could through in some preset for those who don’t have the patience to make their own*LOL* But makeing my own makes them more personal to me, so I enjoy taking my time.
I agree. I also go through and take my time when creating characters. I think it’s a privilege to be able to put that much into your own character. Some people don’t have as much patience as you and I. . . their loss, I think!
I like to customize my characters as well.. although I’m not the one who spends hours doing it.. so I do have a limit to that.. but I enjoy the personal touch that making your own character allows
I like customizing my cars too! (midnight 3 Dub edition)
I have never played any of the racing games so I don’t have alot of experience detailing them(except when I played Saints RowI*LOL*) but even there you could customize your character. For some reason mine was an urban cowboy…ok I live in Texas sure but I am not a cowboy by nature…no hat or boots here(excet dockers and combat*LOL*)
LOL “dockers” yeah right you live in Texas Rav…. only cowboys and cowgirls there
*Smiles points and laughs at Rav’s spurs on his boots*
LOL I have honestly never wore cowboy boots*LOL* much less spurs
Though I would make one hell of a cowboy*LOL* at least I have the mad survival and shooting skills down pat 
I thought a little more about designing games and what my character would be motivated by. It’s funny, because earlier I was thinking that I don’t think he/she would necessarily be motivated by a mother/sister/etc. Then, of course, I looked at the “My Heroes” section of my myspace. And of course, although it was just a section I put together for fun, not one name was female. Go figure, right? I had Frank West, photojournalist, King Leonidas, Big Chris (from Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels), and Han Solo. Hmmmm.
holy sheep shit batman…ok Advent you gained some major Kudo’s by naming King Leonidas. Until the new version of the movie 300 came out there weren’t alot of people I could name that even knew who he was except for military historians. You know on my myspace my hero is my mom.
Maybe you’d be more likely to use a woman as a major motivator in a character’s life than I would! I always looked up more to my Dad, even though he was the cheater in my parents’ relationship. I always saw my mom as a weaker person, and I never wanted to be weak like her. It’s strange how things work out sometimes. Also, King Leonidas was amazing. And I enjoyed the movie, too. Not great film, but great cinema. If you know what I mean.
Well for my parents we have some things in common but some things switched around. My dad cheated and left my mom to raise 3 kids and 2 relatives. She did that and did it pretty damn well on around 30K a year*guessing but I know it wasn’t much* When we got older she found out she couldn’t handle us physically so she called me in one day and asked me to be her muscle. I recieved more priveleges*yeah my spelling is horrible don’t remind me*LOL* but when someone stepped out of line and wouldn’t obey, she just told me to take care of the situation. Long story short she didn’t have problems for long
but the fact that she went through all of that raising 5 kids on not alot of money and having the sense to recruit me as her back up, just made her a very strong woman in my mind.
Yeah 300 was a mite misleading for alot of people. 1. Greek warriors were better armored than that*LOL* And while I am sure they made it like that so the ladies would have some eye candy*LOL* they wore a bronze breast plate. And 2. There were believed to be around 6000-7000 greeks but the spartans were the professionals. Most people don’t hear about the Phoecians who actually fought to the death holding off the Immortals when the spartans made their last stand in the pass. But yes the story of King Leonidas is very good. I would love to visit the hot springs one day and read the plaque dedicated to the battle. “Tell the spartans, stranger passing by. By their law, here we lie” maybe not exact wording but its close enough
For the longest time I only saw my father on weekends. She received a bit of child support but never worked while I was alive, as she has been very sick/disabled. My family never had much money. My mother did a good job and I admire her for that but I always saw her as being too weak. I feel ashamed as she cannot help many things that have happened to her (especially health-wise), but nonetheless. At any rate, she is still a hero to me. Just a different kind of hero, I suppose.
There was something glamorous about my father. He always had more. That can be appealing to a kid. And I admire all the work he put in at his job. He got to retire at fifty. And now every day is Saturday, and he makes the same amt of money not working as he did working.
Ok well looks like we have a history buff (Rav) as well as a psychologist (Advent) this is AWESOME! such a diverse world of gamers.. almost so happy I could cry
*sniff, sniff*
And what are you, Smiles? If he is the historian and I’m the psych buff? We want to know what you bring to the table, too!
LOL! well lets see….I am the sunshine of the group hehe spreading happiness and smiles (hence the name)
WOO HOO for GA!!
Smiles your sunshine is well worth it…You keep me rolling on almost every post–adn to that I humbley thank you
Advent I can totally know what you mean, though my mom worked and we never saw crap for support. My dad really stayed out of our lives for about 4 years till I was joining the marines. Then he kinda 1/2 ass’d popped back in and wondered why we were just all jumping up and down for joy. It took alot of time for me to forgive him. I still think my brother doesn’t forgive him at all, and Im not even really sure about my sister. Its just one of those things we don’t talk about–except vaguely from time to time. He is in the area still and I see him every couple of weeks when he stops by to see my son, and on holidays of course.
Even when parents cheat, I never understand why they make the kids pay by cutting them out of their lives. They never did anything to deserve it. People are just so selfish sometimes. It’s sad.
And, good enough Smiles. We like sunshine. : )
I never really understood it myself, my sons mother and I get along great and we haven’t been together for a while now. Hell I get along great with her husband, the 3 of us will sit around and shoot the shit for hours. Sometimes I think its got to be some F’d up pride issue or something.
That is definitely in the minority (especially in regards to you getting along with the husband! I haven’t heard of that much). Your child is very lucky in terms of his environment. Many children are not.
yeah thats what I hear but we get along great and we talk on the phone even fairly often just to shoot the shit. We just couldn’t live together*LOL* Yeah I hear alot of horror stories about bad split ups and I am just glad ours isn’t the case anylonger.
I think it’s just hard for people to see each other differently once they’ve split. There are some people you will always love (and will never be okay with them seeing another person) and some people that when it’s over you’re just separated from them emotionally and physically. It’s strange how that works. And even other times, like you said, you still see them occasionally and everything’s peachy. You can just be friends.
Hmm… words fail me? But hey Advent what are your top 5 games so far on any console/PC? (you can answer too Rav so you don’t feel left out hehe)
Rav I soo know you liked viva pinata just a little… it is evident by the fact that you REMEBERED you got a deer pinata….Now if you REALLY didnt care for the game you would not have remembered that…. the pinatas would have been objects to you with no meaning but how touching your remebered your beloved deer pinata soo hmm….
RAV PLAYS GIRLY GAMES!!!!
LOL I remembered the Deer just cause I wanted to shoot it*LOL
Hmm are we talking top 5 of all time? ok not in any order mind you
1. COD2
2. Diablo
3. Rome Total War
4. Gears
5. Ultima Online
Advent yeah there have been a few relationships where I was totally detached as soon as it was over. And then there have been 2 that I continued to have feelings for along time after the break up.( one of those lasted for about 8 years) another was a long distance thing from up ya’lls way in ohio(freemont to be exact) it was my sister in law’s cousin whom i met at their wedding. Yeah i have made it up to ohio quite a few times, mostly flying but a couple of road trips.
Again, no particular order. . .
1. The Legend of Zelda
2. Final Fantasy VII
3. Diablo 2
4. Morrowind
5. Wizards and Warriors
Also, I don’t know if I feel comfortable with that list. I have so many more favorites. . . and talk about a prevalence of RPGs. This is a “temporary” list. I may change my mind in ten minutes. : )
oh Legend of Zelda is a Classic, and you can’t obviously go wrong with Diablo 2*LOL*. Morrowind is classic as well. I don’t know that I played FF VII or Wizards and Warrios though. Wasn’t W&W a first person game?
Wizards and Warriors is an ancient 1p NES game made of so much awesome. I still play it on my PC sometimes. Hahah. I can’t believe you never played FFVII? That’s insane. Sacrilege.
What system was it on? You know I think I remember it now, I had a NES forever*LOL*
Hmm nice game choices seems like we have some RPGers around
FFVII was on Playstation1. It’s kind of a must-play, in my opinion. Or maybe that’s the nostalgia talking. The graphics, of course, look like shit now. But the story was engaging.