The comments and views expressed in this blog are solely my own and do not necessarily represent the views of my corporate employer, or my fellow coworkers.
Go into a GameStop this week, and take a look at the "Shape the Body, Sharpen the Mind" section. Take a look at the games that marketing has selected for us to display there. Under the "Shape the Body" category, we have titles such as My Fitness Coach, which makes sense, and Wii Music, which makes...not so much sense. On the other side of the display, we have games meant to "Sharpen the Mind," like My Word Coach, and Flash Focus. More disappointingly, we have games from the Imagine line.
Explain to me how any of those games sharpen the mind. In my opinion, all they do are reinforce female stereotypes. Not negative sterotypes, mind you...just sterotypes. I have nothing against teachers, fashion designers, movie stars, or figure skaters, or whatever else...I just think it'd be nice to see a game aimed at girls that wasn't so damn cliche. It's just the media pushing of how women are "supposed" to be. We're "supposed" to be mothers, caregivers, and look beautiful all the time. Or so it appears.
Look, I like my job. I'm a gamer, and I do enjoy working around games with other gamers, but I'm sick and tired of people (game-makers, customers, and the whole corporate company) treating me like an inferior because I'm a woman. And it's all thanks to the media, which puts these ideas into the ignorant mass's heads.
Then again, these "Sharpen the Mind" games don't even compare to when I just about flew off the handle when GameStop decided to air a Christmas commercial promoting pornography. I'm not allowed to sell a mature-rated game to anyone under the age of seventeen, or anyone who can't show me an ID proving that they're over seventeen, but it's OKay if they stuff their mattresses with adult magazines. I'm also not allowed to swear inside the store, and am supposed to ask customers not to as well because we're a family-friendly company, but it's OKay if we make commercials with blurred-out centerfolds. Am I the only one getting mixed messages?
And this sends negative stereotyping images about male gamers, as well. One, they live with they're parents (because they're either too young or too dependent). Two, they obviously can't get a girlfriend.
But I digress.
How are these Imagine games supposed to sharpen my mind? GameStop has chosen a myriad of games (regrettably) aimed at little girls, rather than titles that actually enhance the brain. Do they honestly think that these are good choices for games to improve ones mind?
Explain to me how any of those games sharpen the mind. In my opinion, all they do are reinforce female stereotypes. Not negative sterotypes, mind you...just sterotypes. I have nothing against teachers, fashion designers, movie stars, or figure skaters, or whatever else...I just think it'd be nice to see a game aimed at girls that wasn't so damn cliche. It's just the media pushing of how women are "supposed" to be. We're "supposed" to be mothers, caregivers, and look beautiful all the time. Or so it appears.
Look, I like my job. I'm a gamer, and I do enjoy working around games with other gamers, but I'm sick and tired of people (game-makers, customers, and the whole corporate company) treating me like an inferior because I'm a woman. And it's all thanks to the media, which puts these ideas into the ignorant mass's heads.
Then again, these "Sharpen the Mind" games don't even compare to when I just about flew off the handle when GameStop decided to air a Christmas commercial promoting pornography. I'm not allowed to sell a mature-rated game to anyone under the age of seventeen, or anyone who can't show me an ID proving that they're over seventeen, but it's OKay if they stuff their mattresses with adult magazines. I'm also not allowed to swear inside the store, and am supposed to ask customers not to as well because we're a family-friendly company, but it's OKay if we make commercials with blurred-out centerfolds. Am I the only one getting mixed messages?
And this sends negative stereotyping images about male gamers, as well. One, they live with they're parents (because they're either too young or too dependent). Two, they obviously can't get a girlfriend.
But I digress.
How are these Imagine games supposed to sharpen my mind? GameStop has chosen a myriad of games (regrettably) aimed at little girls, rather than titles that actually enhance the brain. Do they honestly think that these are good choices for games to improve ones mind?
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