I, quite simply, played video games.
That’s how it should be, right?
I played everything from Harvest Moon and Banjo-Kazooie to MediEvil and Diablo.
There was a shift in how my male friends spoke to me, as well as each other.
After all, if you might’t join them, beat them.
How did Iknowthey were masculine?
you might thank marketing for that.
I knew thatgoodgirls played house, brushed hair, and imagined what their future husband might look like.
Right might look a bit like Link or perhaps even Zelda.
And I get that mentality; I’ve been there myself.
It develops as a result of the constant praise you receive for not being “like other girls.”
Until I played Mass Effect.
The first I heard of the series was while watching my boyfriend play it in college.
However, my boyfriend insisted it was different.
The first two times I tried Mass Effect, I set the controller down and scoffed.
I beat Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2 in about four days.
However, beyond being enamored by these characters, I was enamored by these games.
So I played Skyrim.
And, perhaps my favorite of the lot, I played Metal Gear Solid.
In most of the above games, there is romance and moments of tenderness.
Despite being “high-octane,” there are moments of reflection and isolation.
For being violent power fantasties, I found that in many instances, I had no control.
I had to sacrifice, survive, and rely on others more often than not.
However, Metal Gear Solid is an incredibly tender series.
At its core, the games are pacifistic and inquisitive.
Even the series' silly movie references come from a very sincere and emotional place.
Nearly all games cater to our fantasies–particularly those fantasies associated with power.
Or something else with pastel colors, doe-eyed characters, and little physical strain.
In life sims and dating games, I can be the perfect woman and have it all.
I can explore my sexuality and express feelings without worrying how others might perceive me.
I can control how I am treated and the behavior I accept.
And I firmly believe everyone would benefit from playing them.
But similarly, I think we all would benefit from playing “masculine” games, too.
The world is filled with so much to be fascinated by to be restrained by gender or arbitrary binaries.
Got a news tip or want to contact us directly?
