Women Can Play Video Games, Too

It's an hour after dinner, and I decide to unwind by breaking one of the most common gender-based stereotypes. I turn on my TV and start playing a video game.

I am not what you would call a hard-core gamer, but I play quite a bit and like comparing games with other people. But whenever I join a conversation about video games, I am met with strange looks. One friend put it quite bluntly: "Girls who spend more than 20 minutes on their hair don't play video games."

But why should it be that way? I shouldn't get strange looks when I play video games or when I walk into a GameStop store. Guys aren't the only people who can enjoy video games. The only problem is that women aren't expected to. Believe it or not, women are interested in more things than shopping and doing their hair. We shouldn't be dismissed in the gaming world.

According to ABC News, the number of women playing video games is on the rise. This encouraged me, until I did a search for news articles concerning women and video games. It seems that we have yet to escape the stereotype.

In the articles that I found, various marketers were quoted regarding the types of games that appeal to women. I was disappointed to hear that we are still battling the assumption that women just care about shopping. Women shouldn't be afraid to play video games, and guys should be more accepting.

The reports claimed that women only like nonviolent, peaceful games, like The Sims and Harvest Moon. Now, I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with these games. It just annoys me that developers think that is all we enjoy.

I have played shooter games, racing games and RPGs, also known as Role-Playing Games. And even though I'm a girl, I enjoyed them. They are a great way to relieve stress and it's nice to know that if you make a mistake, you'll be able to jump back up and try again. I'm currently making my way through The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, a game that, according to experts, shouldn't hold my interest.

I don't have a problem with women who only like the nonviolent games. I know it's a personal preference, and I respect that. The only problem I have is being treated like we don't belong in a world of gaming, when both men and women should be able to enjoy themselves. There shouldn't be an unspoken assumption that keeps us out, and we shouldn't be treated differently when we try to join.

Unfortunately, gaming is not the only stereotype we have to deal with. Head over to the gym, and you'll see that almost all of the people playing basketball there are guys. Very rarely do you see a girl there. If they do join the games, they have trouble being accepted into the action and respected for their shots. These stereotypes against women are going on everywhere. Most people just choose not to see it.