I realize representations in media do matter very much. If I had to choose a video game character I resemble most, it would be Elena from Pandora Tower. She has some form of disability but she makes it up with emotional strength and intelligence. However, the average people assume she is just a silent object. They also think she is just a support role. I never thought of her as a silent object. I thought she was pretty strong, and she has her own agenda–like saving the world using soft power. Maybe it’s time for people to reevaluate what strength means, especially in mainstream video games.

I noticed the discrimination when playing multiplayer games many years ago. I was playing DCUO. Somehow I ended up playing a support/buffer role. I felt smothered so I ventured off alone. Ever since, I have a hard time connecting with my peers.  Finding a group of passionate gamers, especially female players who appreciate games for their creativity and aesthetic is hard. It felt more alienating because I don’t play to win, and I don’t like being rough like the boys. Speed run and rank never meant anything to me in video games. I only care about them if I’m working on a trophy. I see video games as an entertaining art form, not to be conquered or won.

I Realized My Own Biases

During those years, playing games by myself made me realized something important. I once fell into the misconception that being female meant being the weaker sex. This was based on how people treated me in person. Well, looking back, I was considered small for my size. It’s hard to have confidence when you know your size can get eaten by a wolf. Yet, the “weaker sex” has nothing to do with intelligence. Intelligence is just another form of strength. And liking a certain type of game doesn’t show superiority. One is more relationship-based than strategy-based. That’s all there is to it.

“Women love romance-related content. It’s nothing new.”- from √Letter

Final Thoughts

I have considered other platforms. However, I like blogging the most, small as it may be. It’s quiet and it allows me to be reflective. I also learn more through reading–especially when it comes to exchanging information. It’s a form of creative expression to me, and I wish more gamers would blog than vlog or stream. You’d be surprised how much we’d learn about ourselves when we all take the time to think before we speak.

Note: Originally published 21, 2021; Revised November 18, 2025.