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Okay, so if you are one of those amazingly smart people who are interested in gender issues and teaching people how not to be jerks, maybe you could help me out for a second? I admit, I am not the most culturally or gender aware person, but fandom has taught me to think about things in different ways, and I am always interested in becoming better. Less judgmental, less hateful, more open and inclusive.
Here is my quandary -> Miranda in Mass Effect
I played the game several times and I couldn't stand her. Admittedly, she brought me back from the dead, is the highest officer in a secret organization that has lied to me and put my friends at risk, and she questions most of the decisions I make. I didn't think I was supposed to like her based from that. BUT, I also despised the costume she wore. All the men get armor to wear, while the women wear whatever tiny, skintight, slinky thing they want, but Miranda also had to deal with all the gratuitous butt/cleavage shots any time we had a conversation.
I hated Miranda and couldn't stand to look at her. I never took her on any missions and only spoke to her when I had to.
Then, I downloaded a DLC that contained alternate appearances for her, and Jack. Jack got clothes that covered her chest to wear that was kind of badass!punk and Miranda got armor. I like them both so much better now. I take them both on missions and have actually gone through all the dialog trees with them. I actually empathize with them in a way I couldn't before.
So, does what a woman wears really make that much of a difference in whether I like her or not? I mean, men make video games, and real soldiers are going to wear uniforms/armor not catsuits, so this isn't reality. It just made me think about women in media and a little about why I avoided these two gals. They still don't have the most engaging story lines, or dialog, but I do enjoy them more. I just kinda wondered if anyone had any opinions or meta recs that I could read.
( Before and after for Miranda and Jack. )
Here is my quandary -> Miranda in Mass Effect
I played the game several times and I couldn't stand her. Admittedly, she brought me back from the dead, is the highest officer in a secret organization that has lied to me and put my friends at risk, and she questions most of the decisions I make. I didn't think I was supposed to like her based from that. BUT, I also despised the costume she wore. All the men get armor to wear, while the women wear whatever tiny, skintight, slinky thing they want, but Miranda also had to deal with all the gratuitous butt/cleavage shots any time we had a conversation.
I hated Miranda and couldn't stand to look at her. I never took her on any missions and only spoke to her when I had to.
Then, I downloaded a DLC that contained alternate appearances for her, and Jack. Jack got clothes that covered her chest to wear that was kind of badass!punk and Miranda got armor. I like them both so much better now. I take them both on missions and have actually gone through all the dialog trees with them. I actually empathize with them in a way I couldn't before.
So, does what a woman wears really make that much of a difference in whether I like her or not? I mean, men make video games, and real soldiers are going to wear uniforms/armor not catsuits, so this isn't reality. It just made me think about women in media and a little about why I avoided these two gals. They still don't have the most engaging story lines, or dialog, but I do enjoy them more. I just kinda wondered if anyone had any opinions or meta recs that I could read.
( Before and after for Miranda and Jack. )
