This past weekend I went to Arse Elektronika, a sex and tech conference in San Francisco that has talks from many different perspectives on whatever lies at the intersection of sex and tech. I wanted to share the transcript of my talk since I put a lot into it and it’s about a highly personal […]
Tag Archives: Gender
More Than a Beard: How Hot Ryu Turns Thirst Into Critique
If there is one particularly awkward conversation in media critique, I would give the award to discussion surrounding the sexual interests of women, and tangentially, anyone attracted to men. Codified on the ‘obviously bad’ platform of media activism, the objectification and sexualization of women calls into question the pervasiveness of pandering to men’s interests by […]
Things I want the men in my life to know
I’ve gotten to a point, both as someone constantly engaging with social change and as a healthy human being, where I need to actively and thoughtfully incorporate men in my life. This might sound like a strange thing to announce, but it’s actually pretty important, for me and a bunch of other people. Obviously I’ve […]
Passing Through: Another Take on Identity in Activism and Design
This past year, I’ve sat down with a lot of creators about representation in games. One of the first questions out of their mouth to me is “How do you depict minorities well in games?”
The Dadification of Video Games is Real
I recently watched a Lets Play of The Last of Us, because god forbid I play a shooter ever again in my life. But I do like to keep up with what’s going on and what people are buzzing on about.
Pursuing My True Self
I remember when I first met him. Well, no, not him, but maybe- he’s a him, to me. I want Naoto to be a him to me as I want my lovers to have me as a her.
You Want To Make a Boyfriend – You Just Don’t Know it Yet
There is an app taking the world by storm. It’s hot in Japan, it’s free, it’s Boyfriend Maker.
Postpartum: Mainichi – How Personal Experience Became a Game
There is a movement. A movement that says “You can too.” It is growing in size, accessibility, and voice. Game design is, and always has been, for everyone, but the narrow path the industry took blocked off many peoples’ opportunity to join in on this artistic revolution.
Confessions of a Fake Geek Girl
Phony. I’m considered a fake in many facets of my identity.
What about the men!? re: Tropes vs Women
Let me give you the multiple reasons why “Men have it bad too, why do women have to get all this attention!?” is a shitty derailment of what’s important:
The Type of Woman I Want Others to See: Why I Wore Heels to PAX East
There’s two sides to these mass gathering of gaming folk, one being that I can talk with anyone about my interests, but I must also appear professional at all times. An unfortunate part about being a professional who is transgender is to be convincing.
Women, the Ensemble, and Narrative Authority in the Final Fantasy Series
What makes some of the games in the Final Fantasy series interesting is how much the women share narrative responsibility with other characters.
Valuing the Feminine: Why I Love Vanille
Let me come out with it now: my favorite Final Fantasy characters tend to be the classic cheerful and energetic archetype, like Aeris, Selphie, and Vanille.
Second Date – Ikezawa Hanako, a Trans* Narrative
Upon a first glance, there seemed to be little application for this analysis outside of criticizing pandering to men’s interests in visual novels, however, my personal connection to Hanako provided me with something else. I saw her do something that triggered a muscle memory from my past: She covers her face.
Ikezawa Hanako, the Otaku Exotic
You’re a male student who has the pick of five high school girls with disabilities to date and sleep with. Yes, Katawa Shoujo has a sensationalist premise promising for something to go horribly wrong.