Created for Magazine http://bitchmagazine.org/blogs/mad-world
The widely popular video game Bayonetta has had an advertising campaign that matches the on screen sexism of the game itself. In Tokyo a large billboard in the subway invited passersby to literally strip off flyers to reveal Bayonetta naked underneath. The campaign perpetuates and encourages sexual and physical harassment against women, an epidemic in Japan (and many other countries, including the United States).
Duration : 0:4:11
@definenothing Your …
@definenothing Your statement is indicative of a western central mindset. The game is made in a country that has a completely different history and view of sex. We cannot make generalizations on our society based on their culture. We may see it as degrading, while they may see it as empowering. You state popular opinion, but it is only your perception of American popular opinion, and is in no way relevant to Japanese culture in which the game was produced.
@Dirge987 Although …
@Dirge987 Although I would normally agree with your statement, patriarchy is clearly a HUGE problem in Japan as well, and the implementation of women only cars is just one indicator of that.
@WarioDuke Thanks …
@WarioDuke Thanks so much! Just added the captions to video!
Very good coverage …
Very good coverage of something that, frankly, made me feel physically sick when I saw it. However, I shall pick up on one point.
Having developed into a feminist (among other things) geographer with transport planning pretensions over the past three years of my bachelors degree, I have to say that I become more and more opposed to women-only carriages in public transport, and I shall summarise the reasons why.
- The provision …
– The provision tends to be 1-2 cars of a 10+ car train; this very much implies that women should be a minority of those who are mobile.
- If you make it half the train, you have the same segregation as of another oppressed group on trains in Southern States up until the 1950s or so.
@evilhippo5 I think …
@evilhippo5 I think the difference between comparing the women only trains to the segregated south is that the current trains are optional. Providing women the option for a safer space is not rooted in a prejudice where segregation in the south was just out right racism.
@feministfrequency …
@feministfrequency I made that comparison prefaced “If you make it half the train”. I understand that this is practice in certain Indian cities, where there is compulsory segregation of sexes of trains.
On the other hand, if you make it a minority optional provision of 1-2 cars, you firstly imply women are a minority of those mobile, and, as a later comment that was not approved said, you make the other carriages more male-dominated, likely worsening conditions for the remainder of women.
@evilhippo5 I’ve …
@evilhippo5 I’ve approved all your comments, maybe it didn’t post for some reason.
Also the plain fact …
Also the plain fact that she is called Bayonetta, a bayonette is an accessory to the gun itself. If the gun is a representation of the entertainment value and draw of the game, then the title character is ironically of little worth or importance. I’m probably just reiterating what has already been said but it’s crazy what passes for entertainment and how we so willingly buy into it.
GOOD ARGUMENT!
( … 
(but she’s not a single mom. 
I’d be spoiling stuff if I go into depth.) I never thought of it like that. I’m a girl, and sure, I was a bit offended but it’s just a video game, right? And also to the80′skickasswhateverwhaccamacalit: I know a whole group of girls who play video games! To tell you the truth, we (the group) enjoy storylined games rather then puzzles and stuff. Shooting stuff up for no reason? Naw, not too into that.
GOOD ARGUMENT!
Interesting–it’s …
Interesting–it’s hard to argue against he objectification of the train adds. For the game itself, the only argument that didn’t click my misogyny sensors (which, admittedly, are poor) is the Gamer Overthinker, which saw Bayonetta not as sexualized–but as sexually intimidating. The area of debate is how much of it is voyuerism and how much it is an at-command performance (if it can be called that).
@Vihrea
I dont …
@Vihrea
I dont think the bayonette (or bayoneta as we said in spanish) has no or little importance in a weapon, I think when I used the bayoneta in a sand bag, it was really scary, so I think Its a really serious weapon and it makes the fight more personal and a discusting experience for a soldier to use this weapon.
Randomly got linked …
Randomly got linked from another site. Saw some comments about the name Bayonetta and the bayonette weapon. Just wanted to point out that “Bayonetta” was also apparently the name of the original “younger women” tribe in the 12th season of the show Survivor. Didn’t read into that any deeper. Also that giant vacuum boss thing looks awesome. Never played this game but that boss looks awesome. I agree about the excessive sexual stuff being stupid but target demographics are what they are…
@feministfrequency …
@feministfrequency I couldn’t agree more. For every game with literary subtext or complex characters, there are fistfuls of cut and paste shooters or fighters who’s protagonist is the action hero stereotype. The industry has problems, and I agree with your criticisms. The problem is women don’t want to play games because they’re not woman friendly, and they’re not woman friendly because women don’t play games. In the end change has to come from consumers because developers won’t take the chance.
@feministfrequency …
@feministfrequency Most women don’t like video games. there is a stigma against it in the female social circles. When more women play video games, more games will be made for them. The games that women usually play are not story driven games (God of War) but more strategy game (Bejeweled). Women aren’t really drawn to violence which is what most gameplay is now days. so the only company making games for women too is Nintendo. Sex and violence sell, and money is the bottom line.
This is a great …
This is a great video. At first I thought it was regrettable but forgivable until you brought up the ad campaign they carried out in the subway. It saddens me to think that as technology advances we create new ways to degrade women. There are even porns that fetishize molestation and rape in subway stations.
My only complaint with this video is the audio quality. Its kind of hard to hear you. What kind of microphone are you using?
Agree with you, for …
Agree with you, for the most part, about the game.
That said, did you really suggest that American public transit would be improved by having “separate but equal” subway cars for women? If a male politician suggested that, I believe you would find that idea incredibly insulting.
I don’t agree with a lot of your points, but I do believe that your heart is in the right place when you make these videos, so count me in as a subscriber.
@Dirge987 I would …
@Dirge987 I would argue that the existence of games with this kind of inherent patriarchal structure reflects perceptions in our society about women in general. If there were not sexually possessive perceptions of women in society, games like this would not be created. The imagery reflects popular opinion, which is why it is so sickening.
Any consumer of …
Any consumer of anime is well acquainted with Japan’s unnerving brand of misogyny.
@The80sKickAss Your …
@The80sKickAss Your statement about the types of games women play is totally wrong and there is lots of research done to disqualify the gendered argument you are making.
@daniel154 I would …
@daniel154 I would not find it insulting if a male politician suggested optional separate women only subway cars, but they would never say that because male politicians are rarely looking out for women’s safety.
@Dirge987 so can’t …
@Dirge987 so can’t games be made by and for gamers including female gamers? Also, the gaming community should be concerned about how alienating the games and the communities are to women who would want to be apart of it.
That ad is not …
That ad is not encouraging anything but people to buy the game. I’m sorry but this is an irrational response to a problem I agree is an issue, violation,but blaming a game the majority of people don’t even know about or have played is laughable.
@lukewarmstormed I …
@lukewarmstormed I didn’t blame the game specifically, it is just encouraging behaviour that is already a problem.
Finished subbing …
Finished subbing this one too, again, it might help to talk a little slower. Keep up the great videos. ^^
I know a whole group of girls who play video games! To tell you the truth, we (the group) enjoy storylined games rather then puzzles and stuff. Shooting stuff up for no reason? Naw, not too into that.
Plaseeeee!!!.are you kidding me???