Video game characters are presented in many different ways, however there could be a link between female characters and sexualisation in comparison to male characters, who could be said to be presented in “normal” ways.

Examples of female sexualisation include differences in female animations, camera angles and clothing. The purpose of this may be to satisfy the stereotypical straight male player who would usually be interested in these types of games.

This could link to an idea dubbed “The Male Gaze” which is a masculine, heterosexual viewpoint of the stereotypical straight male which portrays women as “objects” used for sexual pleasure. It was first applied by John Berger in a documentary-style analysis named “Ways of Seeing” in 1972. It showed how women were represented in art and advertising.

The concept was further applied by Laura Mulvey when she critiqued traditional representations of women in film, which solidified the term further.