Polygon Interview: Toxic Masculinity In Video Games (Ugh)

[DrDoomz]

 

 

Jaicee said:

 

 

 

o_O.Q said:

 

 

 

toxicity isn't only expressed as aggression, repression is also toxic and actually to me its in some ways far more harmful than aggression

 

many serious mental illnesses for example are caused by people repressing themselves

 

 

 

"Aggressive behavior from women, by contrast, is considered unnatural and unacceptable"

 

is that really true though?

 

i've never actually seen women get criticised for using violence

 

 

do you think perhaps this could be the result of people acknowledging that since men are typically stronger they can cause more damage and as a result they are kept on a shorter leash?

 

 

 

"and thus are women expected to control ourselves a great deal more than our male counterparts."

 

ok lets say women started becoming more violent and attacked men more often... how do you think that would pan out for women?

 

 

 

" For women, violence tends to be considered an unacceptable recourse even in self-defense."

 

can i get examples of where you are getting this from? because again i've never seen someone criticise the use of violence by women

 

i mean i don't think i have to really go and get various links demonstrating the obvious fact that the use of violence by men against women is viewed as abhorrent in our society

 

 

 

 

 

There are more questions above than I have time to respond to this morning, so I'll just offer the summarized version: everyone who is female knows good and well that our socialization process is radically different from that of our male counterparts, particularly as it relates to the question of violence.

 

It is also just self-evident that the treatment of aggressive behavior breaks down substantially along the lines of whether one is male or female. A man who engages toxic behavior (as we call it) will possibly be faulted for an excess of machismo (being too manly) or otherwise just excused with an expression like "boys will be boys", while a woman who does the same will instead by labeled something like a "bitch", which refers to a female dog, i.e. sub-human. There exists a definite difference of gradations here. Even right here on this very thread, the fictional character Lara Croft has been described as "masculine" by one person because of her role as an action character. Not even fictional women are excepted!

 

Think: Why until recently have women been forbidden to say join the military? Why is it usually men who own firearms? Why are 90% of the participants in street gangs male? Because aggressive, even violent, behavior is considered more acceptable for men than for women. It's regarded as a necessity for men to be protectors, so those impulses have to be validated on some level for men. You see what I'm getting at?

 

 

 

There is a bit of non-sequitur in your logic here.

Men being violent is not acceptable behavior in any kind of modern society. Whereas women being violent (to men) can be handwaved away and ignored. If a woman was continuously slapping a man and the man simply slapped her once in retaliation/self-defense, who do you think becomes seen as the villain?

It is likely more to do with men being  perceived (though not always accurately) as capable of far more physical harm than a woman due to greater strength, size and higher aggression.

And men being seen as better soldiers and protectors does not mean it is acceptable for us to be more violent. It is likely more possible that it is due to men being generally (with exceptions of course) better at certain physical tasks/violence than women (again, see: strength/size advantage).