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For Zelda-playing daughter, Dad gives Link a sex change

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Re: For Zelda-playing daughter, Dad gives Link a sex change

#61

Post by samspot »

agentultra wrote: post #16

Great idea and cool hack. I'm about to be the father of a baby girl soon myself and there is no end to the anxiety I hold for the struggles she's going to face simply because she's a girl. Although if she ever wants to know programming, maths, and how to solder a PCB I intend to be there for her... and perhaps editing hex dumps of games as well. Thanks for the tip!

I don't worry about it so much because I know as a father that I can make sure she has the opportunity and encouragement to pursue traditionally male-oriented interests. I worry more about other little girls whose parents may be the biggest enforcers of these stereotypes.

Re: For Zelda-playing daughter, Dad gives Link a sex change

#62

Post by wazoox »

Tipzntrix wrote: post #46
wazoox wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In GEB, the protagonists are the Tortoise and Achilles. I think this particular passage is about the french translation that Hoefstader proof-read (as he's fluent in French); the French translator called the Tortoise "she", because "tortue" is of feminine gender so most "tortues" characters are naturally female in French.

Interesting. That also seems to back up my point that languages just make words sound masculine or feminine, even if not explicitly defined like in the Romantic languages (French, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, others of similar origin). The fact that they are in a footrace seems to suggest they were lifted from their original myths though.

The race between the tortoise and Achilles (or sometimes Achilles and the arrow) is the common illustration of the best known Zeno's paradox: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zenos_paradoxes

Re: For Zelda-playing daughter, Dad gives Link a sex change

#63

Post by gcb »

so, is like a santa-claus or stork lore, but totally twisted by the father... it's like explaining to her that babies comes from crows. Will not get her closer to reality, and will make her awkward when surrounded by larger groups more familiar with the more usual folklore.

Re: For Zelda-playing daughter, Dad gives Link a sex change

#64

Post by MartinCron »

saraid216 wrote: post #28
tedunangst wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Obvious solution is obvious. Children need to be forced to play more Metroid.

And only Metroid? Or can you produce a list?

Here's your list, starting with Ms. Pac-Man

http://www.giantbomb.com/female-protagonists/92-2287/

Re: For Zelda-playing daughter, Dad gives Link a sex change

#65

Post by pjscott »

IvarTJ wrote: post #47
AgathaTheWitch wrote: post #26

This is a very cool hack, and I support the intention behind it. Still, it is something I would never do for two reasons: For one, as an author, I disagree with altering a text for a political purpose. To be sure, this instance is fairly innocuous, and parents frequently change bedtime stories on the fly to suit their kids. Nevertheless I consider the Legend of Zelda to be a text with its own mythology and themes, an…

Both Wonderwoman and Kusanagi are modeled with apparent sex appeal by male authors. Could they really still be good role models? I ask this as someone who don't know much about either comics.

Of course they can. Imagine a hypothetical comic with characters of both genders who are all sparklingly excellent role models in the way they behave. Now imagine that this comic was drawn by people who designed all those characters to be blatantly, panderingly sexy -- a fairly common situation, since sex sells, and cross-demographic appeal makes commercial sense. Does this make the characters poor role models, in spite of their good personalities and deeds? I doubt it.

Re: For Zelda-playing daughter, Dad gives Link a sex change

#68

Post by IvarTJ »

pjscott wrote: post #65
IvarTJ wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Both Wonderwoman and Kusanagi are modeled with apparent sex appeal by male authors. Could they really still be good role models? I ask this as someone who don't know much about either comics.

Of course they can. Imagine a hypothetical comic with characters of both genders who are all sparklingly excellent role models in the way they behave. Now imagine that this comic was drawn by people who designed all those characters to be blatantly, panderingly sexy -- a fairly common situation, since sex sells, and cross-demographic appeal makes commercial sense. Does this make the characters poor role models, in sp…

These are not hypothetical comics. If the characters are primarly tools to entice male audiences, then they are unlikely to also serve as good role models.

Re: For Zelda-playing daughter, Dad gives Link a sex change

#69

Post by shirro »

My young son loves Studio Ghibli films. Nearly all the main characters Kiki, Chihiro, Ponyo, Arrietty, Satsuke and Mei etc are girls. He is a bit young for Mononoke and hasn't seen Nausicaä. About the only one he doesn't like is Porco Rosso. Role models are important but I don't know that all our kids heroes and game characters have to be same sex.

Re: For Zelda-playing daughter, Dad gives Link a sex change

#70

Post by ktrgardiner »

eli_awry wrote: post #2

This is great, and adorable. When I was a kid, I hated that I was a girl because boys had all the adventures in books. Fiction by authors that featured tough girls - Tamora Pierce being a notable example - helped turn that around. Girls want to go on wild chases in strange lands too!

Probably my absolute favorite book series are The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede. The protagonist is a princess who grows up hating all the typical princess things she's being taught so she convinces people to teach her swordfighting, magic, Latin, and other things princes are taught. When she gets fed up she runs away to be a dragon's princess and has all sorts of great adventures.

Those books are so refreshing and brilliant that I still reread them to this day.

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