The latest entry in the Tropes vs. Women in Video Games series from media critic and Feminist Frequency creator Anita Sarkeesian examines how female characters are used as objects or background decorations.
Dubbed "Women as Background Decoration: Part 1," the video highlights games such as BioShock Infinite, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Fallout: New Vegas, Mass Effect 2 and Watch Dogs. According to Sarkeesian, the trope is defined by women who are used to "infuse edgy, gritty or racy flavoring into game worlds."
"These sexually objectified female bodies are designed to function as environmental texture while titillating presumed straight male characters," the video's description reads. "Sometimes they're created to be glorified furniture, but they are frequently programmed as minimally interactive sex objects to be used and abused."
You can watch the video above — which does include a content warning for graphic sexual and violent game footage — or read the full transcript on Feminist Frequency.
Tropes vs. Women in Video Games is a critical examination of women in games funded via Kickstarter in 2012. Previous videos have touched on topics such as the damsel in distress and female versions of established male characters. At GDC 2014, Sarkeesian was honored with the Ambassador Award for her work on the series.