Conley Hausle

Dr. Ouellette
ENGL 327W
8 December 2018
Reflection Five: Body Image and Video Games
Body image has long been a troubling issue worldwide. People of all ages, genders, and
races experience issues with it. That being said, one of the most troubled demographics in this
regard is that of young women. It is not surprising, especially when you consider how the female
body is marketed to consumers. The vast majority of popular media portrays women and girls as
being thin and small. For proof of this, one need look no further than Makuch’s article on doing
makeovers on video game characters. The photo gallery is staggering. Some of the women
appear to be completely lacking ribcages. It is
also starling to see some of what was altered.
Not only were the breasts made smaller and
bellies made larger, but faces were rounded
out and arms were thickened as well (Makuch,
2015).
These body proportions are completely
unrealistic, and they can have a massive effect
on how women view their bodies. In
Bukatman’s essay Terminal Identity: The
Virtual Subject in Postmodern Science Fiction,
he states that “the body becomes the site of Before and after photo of a Nabooru from Legend
exploration, a site in which the implications of of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Makuch, 2015).
postmodern dissolution are inscribed and
hypostatized (1993). When children play video games, these games become an extension of their
reality, and children use them as a safer way to explore the world. Thus, exposing children to
such unobtainable ideas of what the human body should look like can have a very damaging
effect on their psyche, and can even lead to eating disorders like bulimia.
In her essay "Horror and the Monstrous-Feminine: An Imaginary Abjection." Barbara
Creed states that the feminine “is constructed as such within a patriarchal discourse which
reveals a great deal about male desires and fears but tells us nothing about feminine desire
(1986).” Female characters in video games are absolutely made for the male gaze, without
considering how women will feel about them or how they will affect young girls’ body image.
In conclusion, the portrayal of women’s bodies in video games is a major issue. It
influences young girls to believe that their bodies should be something they cannot, and is done
completely for male desires. However, women are a growing part of video game players, and as
such should have their opinions and desires taken into account too.
 Works Cited
Bukatman, S. (1993). Terminal Identity the Virtual Subject in Postmodern Science Fiction.
Creed, Barbara. "Horror and the Monstrous-Feminine: An Imaginary Abjection." Screen, vol. 27,
no. 1, 1986, pp. 44-71.
Makuch, E. "Female Gaming Characters Get "Realistic" Makeovers from Eating Disorder
Group." 24 July 2015,