Nothing brings gamers together like the chance to rob a bank, play as a violent sociopath with staggering anger management issues or take your Rottweiler for a walk. GTA V has all that, and more. I’m digging the game, I truly am. But of course, the game has critics. Because something this big just has to have an ulterior motive. Or at least some excuse to slap a tinfoil hat on for.
So here’s where folks are getting vocal. They’re saying that GTA V has no female characters making a grand entrance. That women are presented as either objects of lust, negative role models or something to poke fun at.
And yes, that is true. 100% correct true. My issue here though, is that they’re not the only people/gender/group getting ribbed. That’s the beauty of GTA. Everyone gets made fun of. Sure, Franklin’s aunt may be a money-grubbing relative who shouts gender-empowerment quotes as she barely makes it past the driveway. I could see that as being offensive.
And then I see long-time GTA character Lazlow Jones being rendered as an absolute failure in life who is stuck hosting a flash in the pan reality show so that he can maintain some level of relevance while he proceeds to mime having sex with Michael’s daughter. The fictional Lazlow that is. His real life counterpart must have rhino-thick skin to put up with the onscreen abuse he suffers in GTA V.
The males in GTA V are just as thoroughly bad, vapid and genuinely terrible as the female characters. But that’s the point. Los Santos is pretty much where dreams come to die, where people chase fame no matter the cost.
For every hooker out on the streets, there’s an absolute turd of a human being waiting in a dumpster ready to snap some pictures of a celebrity, or an adrenaline junkie who helps balance the ridiculously over the top aggression of an exercise group. Everyone is insulted. And maybe that’s not so bad after all.
Is some of this content tasteless? Absolutely, yes it is. But again, that’s the point. Here’s an even wilder theory though: Maybe there is no conspiracy. Maybe Rockstar just wanted to make a great game. I doubt that the crew involved sat around a table and had weekly meetings about how to screw over a gender.
It’s just a game. And maybe by not having any female leads, that makes a decent statement. Sure, it could be a missed opportunity, but we all knew well ahead of time that GTA V would have no playable female characters, until the online section arrives that is. If Rockstar wanted to make a game with only male leads then fine.
Because maybe there was no real good reason to have a female lead. It wouldn’t have changed the rest of the game. Trevor would still be running around high as a kite and Michael’s ungrateful children would still be prime examples of why couples should practice safe sex. I mean, just look at Trevor. I’ve brought him up several times, but just look at him. Honestly, I’m the one that should be insulted. But when I get off my high horse, I love the guy.
Maybe I’m ranting too much about this. After all, all I want to do is just sit down and enjoy a couple of hours of raising hell in Los Santos as one of several homicidal stereotypes. And even with those criticisms, none of them dilute the absolutely phenomenal experience that GTA V brings to the table.
Last Updated: September 23, 2013
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Gavin Mannion
September 23, 2013 at 15:37
I’ve been away recently so when Darryn told me that people were complaining about mysoginy in GTA I was blown away…
Seriously do these people realise the main characters are all assholes so you are begging for someone to be a female asshole just to spread the love? That’s like complaining that most of the people killed in movies are male..
Stupidity has no limits apparently
JHN
September 23, 2013 at 15:41
Dude you are going to start another twitter war, I can see the crusaders coming already.
Marc O Polo
September 23, 2013 at 15:42
ppl are always gonna bitch but as far as i’m concerned if GTA isn’t offending ppl Rockstar are doing something seriously wrong!!!!
SaintsRowMurray
September 23, 2013 at 16:15
Women have the right to be assholes too, you know?
GalacticLordCaptainAwesomeness
September 24, 2013 at 12:30
Tell ’em gav… It is your BLOB, you go and get them..
Adam
September 24, 2013 at 15:57
Discussing how women are represented in GTA V is “stupidity”, but it’s totally valid to raise an issue regarding its portrayal of torture… http://www.lazygamer.co/xbox-360/has-gta-v-gone-too-far-with-the-torture-scene/
Then again I wouldn’t expect anything less from you, given your enthusiastic defence of Hotline 2 rape’s scene. http://www.lazygamer.co/video/hotline-miami-2-includes-a-rape-scene-has-gaming-gone-too-far/
Adam
September 26, 2013 at 10:59
Oh and it’s spelled “misogyny” btw, you utter fucking bellend.
Hammersteyn
September 23, 2013 at 15:42
The biggest clue should have been the first time you get to play as Trevor. Um when he is busy in the diner watching the news and stuff……
Anyway the game is R18 and has adult themes plus you play as three anti heroes. What does one except For me personally this could be the GOTY for 2013
Marc O Polo
September 23, 2013 at 15:43
not a diner but his trailer… but i get your point!
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
September 23, 2013 at 15:43
Exactly my strange Hobbit-like friend! You have hit the nail on the head!
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 23, 2013 at 15:48
Maybe just as well there’s no playable female characters. This is one of those situations where you’re damn if you do & damned if you don’t.
This reminds me of a comedy show I watched once, can’t remember who it was. He was talking about racism & how the way you say something can make your point come across as racist, and then proceeded to give an example to illustrate his point. Then an audience member complained that his example of what would be a racist remark, was racist. He actually double-checked to make sure they really did not get the point before telling them they’re stupid.
Hammersteyn
September 23, 2013 at 15:50
What if they allow you to pick the gender of the character when you start the game. I would love to see them complain then.
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 23, 2013 at 15:52
Then they’d complain about the actions of their female character because real women wouldn’t do that, or something along those lines.
SaintsRowMurray
September 23, 2013 at 16:01
I have two words for them: Saints Row! I love the fact that you get to play a female gang boss if you want to.
And she is just as bad/tasteless as any male counterpart!
I honestly feel if GTA allowed me to choose the gender of the 3 main characters, I would be all over that game like white on rice!
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 23, 2013 at 16:03
Is true, I played as a female, it made no difference to the game.
Hammersteyn
September 23, 2013 at 16:10
Hence no complaining, probably.
SaintsRowMurray
September 23, 2013 at 16:13
Male + Female = Vyf Myl
Kromas
September 24, 2013 at 12:00
First time I tried romance in 4 was with Kinzie. I was in stitches for 10 mins cause a romance options I am used to takes ages and is more subtle.
unclestiggypants
December 31, 2013 at 17:00
Old discussion but there are a lot of feminists who were offended by the fact you could play as a woman. They said it was a disgusting representation of women. You cannot win with these people. It’s depressing.
Your statement implies that you aren’t playing the game because there are no women. Am I correct? Because if a man said they didn’t play Tomb Raider because they had to play as a woman (I’ve NEVER heard anyone say this about a female protagonist) I imagine you’d be offended. And this is what feminists do every time they complain about male, white leads. They’re being sexist and racist.
No one is stopping feminists from getting into gaming and making something. Instead, as usual, they complain about things that have happened naturally and imply insidious intent. They’re mental.
Hammersteyn
September 23, 2013 at 16:10
Dunno, I’ve seen and met some men, I mean women that you won’t believe.
devovit
October 21, 2013 at 01:23
Yeah, just like everyone always complains about Saints Row being sexist… oh wait, that doesn’t happen. Oops, better luck next time.
unclestiggypants
December 31, 2013 at 17:07
Guess what? It did happen. Look on sites like Eurogamer, people there complained that it portrayed women as criminals and drug dealers. These same people then complained that there were no female protagonists in GTA. You cannot win. Some of these people that call themselves feminists are obsessed with being victims. Unfortunately these maniacs use the label “feminist” too so people are terrified of opposing them. It’s kind of how people were scared of anyone with the label “priest”. People abuse their position in order to practice prejudice.
Plus, if women started making games they can do what they want. Because when men make games for women (see the original Tomb Raider) they’re accused of sexism.
devovit
December 31, 2013 at 18:09
“It totally did happen, look on Eurogamer. I seem to vaguely remember some comment or something where someone maybe said something along the lines of not liking women being portrayed as criminals. I can’t remember which article it was or what they actually said, but trust me when I say that this one internet commenter who may or may not be a figment of my imagination totally proves that we shouldn’t let the nasty girls and their cooties into our GTA treehouse.”
Your evidence is irrefutable, sir, and I bow down before it.
Rincethis
September 23, 2013 at 15:51
Really? Man, the world is wrong.
Mark Treloar
September 23, 2013 at 18:18
Interesting how lack of a female lead totally overshadows the Mexican hates crimes. Those poor electrocuted Mexicans.
Marc O Polo
September 23, 2013 at 20:59
i must say that was most enjoyable though…
Darren Peach
September 23, 2013 at 22:50
As a long time hater of this series, Something inside told me to buy this one. Money well spent. I am a total convert.
Rags
September 23, 2013 at 23:16
Are people offended?
Good.
William Cookston Igou
September 24, 2013 at 10:34
honestly haven’t enjoyed the series this much since playing the first one with my cousins and brother. Love how much humor they brought back, thought they were going to make it too real.
Aussious
September 24, 2013 at 16:00
Strangely on this front Saints Row has made leaps and bounds and is way ahead…
oops-i-figured-it-out
September 25, 2013 at 01:33
What about all the bullshit references to/ but not limited to : llluminati, Spirituality, Aliens, UFO, Carbon based life-forms, Meditation, Yet never serious, like everything is a joke. They obviously have planned these, in one way or another ?
— Trying to place these interesting ideas of spirit, meditation, other planetary life, into social discussion ?
— Or turning these beautiful ideas, into a lump of idiocracy ? The game is good, I enjoyed it. I’m talking about the perspectives it plays with.
Avithar
September 25, 2013 at 09:05
Guess the havent played to the part where you meet trevor’s mom… dumb critics i say.
Devourer of Small Bunnies
September 25, 2013 at 11:20
Goddamit. Aint this horse been beaten to death already? Guess you cant keep everyone happy all of the time neh?
Tekno Pixie
October 2, 2014 at 21:23
The males in the game are individuals, some are ugly, some are fat etc. The women are not portrayed as individuals…… Look up the word objectification. I am not offended by sexism, I mean Ive lived as a female all my life id be pretty miserable if sexism bothered me that much. I don’t think GTA-5 is going to start turning males into sexists. But it would be SO fucking cool to have a kickass playable woman in a game for once, one who is ugly and/or has small breasts. In fact any woman in a game with an actual personality would be great 🙂
Tekno Pixie
October 2, 2014 at 21:26
ps. it seems some people misunderstood the word feminist. A feminist is a person who believes in EQUAL rights, not the rights of women only, but men too. Don’t start thinking that some of the extremists are the norm. Most feminists are not victim-playing. They fight for mens rights too.
duncan onyamami
January 6, 2015 at 20:15
I call bullshit.