In a recent review of Skyrim, it was implied that women would not enjoy this game. It is not the first, nor will it be the last time I will hear, or rather read, someone telling me that I do not enjoy video games, nor will it be the last. However, since this idea is so prevalent, I have decided to delve into the possibility that perhaps one gender may be predisposed to video games.
Difference one: Sex
Webmd: Sex Drive How Men and Women Compare
According to this article by webmd, men have higher sex drives than women, which explains a lot about video games that I already suspected. Also, Grandpa may have Viagra to help him out, but women don't have anything to help their sex drives when they get low. Therefore women are actually less likely to be interrupted while playing video games to polish the doorknob than men are.
On the other hand, as pointed out in an article by my husband, video games are targeted towards men in the area of sex. Women are given breasts several sizes larger than average and they wear no bra so their boobs bounce up and down, which I can say from personal experience is very painful and would at least bring the health bar down 20 points by itself. Men, on the other hand, often have less provocative clothing and rarely run around shirtless with bulging muscles, or even better, shirtless with an apron on offering to cook a delicious, healthy dinner and do the dishes afterwards.
So in the end, physically women have the upper hand with sex, since they are able to sustain longer periods of gaming without it, but culture rally men do. It evens out.
Difference two: Competitiveness
Nytimes: Difference between Men and Women Visited
According to the New York Times, several studies show that men are more competitive than women. Competitiveness is an important trait in some games, like first-person shooters and real time strategy games, but not others like role-playing games and simulation games. Sociologists think this is a trait we're raised to have, not a brain thing.
Since parents could raise their daughters to be competitive and many games aren't competitive, this point is mute.
Difference three: Multitasking and your Brain
Diffrences
This essay discussed the differences between men's and women's brains, the most drastic of which is that men focus on the left side of their brain and women tend to use both sides. This leads to women multitasking more often. Multitasking is like protecting a companion, killing a dragon, keeping an eye on a giant, talking on the phone, and making sure the food doesn't burn.
Yeah. Women are better at that.
Summary
So it's not that women don't like video games, it's that women as a gender prefer video games that may not be as competitive and allow them to multitask. So Skyrim is perfect for the average woman. Keep in mind that this was for the average woman. I know some very competitive women, and I also know some women that can't multitask at all.
By Becky Amen
