XMyCrimsonTearsX In reply to GodsOnVacation [2013-09-19 23:28:16 +0000 UTC]

I never said MG were sexist. I didn't even imply it. I said her character design was unnecessary OTT with the sexualisation (there's that non-existent word again) I did say that I was more annoyed with how impractical her outfit was. 
None of the other characters up to now, male or female, have been dressed quite that ridiculously. (Having scenes where they're in various states of undress doesn't count, I'm talking basic outfit design here) 
I'm sure she will have depth and personality and I'm sure somewhere there will be a reason thrown in for her outfit (I know the whole skin-camouflage thing, but that doesn't really explain the tights, or the cut of her top/pants. She'd be better off in a small tank-top and shorts in army camo) but my point is that all anyone will remember her for is the outfit and there is a problem with only remembering female characters for how 'sexy' they are. 

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GodsOnVacation In reply to XMyCrimsonTearsX [2013-09-20 00:13:17 +0000 UTC]

And what is that problem, to you?

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XMyCrimsonTearsX In reply to GodsOnVacation [2013-09-20 00:55:37 +0000 UTC]

The problem is that female characters get remembered for how attractive their body is, while male characters get remembered for how well they do their job. This perpetuates the notion that a woman is to be judged first and foremost on her physical appearance. 
Go search 'Eva Metal Gear' on deviantart and look how many pictures of her there are accentuating her sex appeal and how many there are of her being awesome and kicking ass, or even just looking serious
Then do the same with 'Snake Metal Gear'
They've each got art both sexualised and non-sexualised, but Eva's got far more sexualised art than Snake does. And even Snake's sexualised art is mainly just him looking extra-muscular while walking or shooting, whereas Eva's posing erotically or looking lost. They remember Snake for being good-looking AND capable, whereas Eva is remembered by a large portion of the fanbase for her looks alone, and is even made into some slightly vulnerable innocent. 
I don't even have a major problem with Eva's outfit, it's not THAT sexualised, and if she's had this response from the fanbase I can only imagine what Quiet's fanart will be like in a year's time. 

This, in the long term, when coupled with other forms of media reduces women almost entirely to the value men put on their bodies. I mean, they can have personalities and be awesome fighters, but all anyone really cares about or remembers is 'dayum, boobs.' (Or ass, depending on their preference...legs maybe)

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GodsOnVacation In reply to XMyCrimsonTearsX [2013-09-20 01:48:21 +0000 UTC]

I think you are wrong about peoples impressions. People looking at it from the outside wold be the only ones that remember things that way. I don't feel that way about characters I like when i actually know the show or game they are from. Especially when you are talking about other people artwork. I don't remember Meryl as a piece of ass just because you get to see her in her underwear that one time. In fact she is the most interesting character and the most real. when she was younger she was weak and you had to save her but she grew into a capable strong person. I just think things like this are the wrong kind of thing to go after if you want to fight sexism. Its trivial.  the people complaining about her looks are judging her the same way just on a negative end of the spectrum.

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XMyCrimsonTearsX In reply to GodsOnVacation [2013-09-20 11:33:33 +0000 UTC]

If you search for Meryl on Deviantart, you get pretty much the same story as you do with Eva. 
It's really not trivial, because all these little things add up to form the bigger problem, they influence people's ideas about gender as they grow up, and if people remember a female character for their physical appearance over their personality or achievements then they start to only value real women for their appearance as well.
People don't generally draw fanart unless they've played the game/watched the show, so these pieces are drawn by fans, many of which only portray a helpless, sexualised version of the female characters.
Now, I'm sure there will be some fans who remember these characters for all that they are, but there will be a large proportion who won't.  
I'm not judging her on her physical appearance, I'm not saying she's going to be useless or a bad character, I'm merely pointing out that in the current biases of our society, all a lot of people will be looking at when she is on screen is her ass and boobs. Which are displayed in a way that would actually hinder her ability to do her job.

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GodsOnVacation In reply to XMyCrimsonTearsX [2013-09-26 22:16:28 +0000 UTC]

I look forward to it. lol

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