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Sweden has decided to move forward with implementing a rating for video games that exclude women. Last month it was reported that the Swedish Government was made aware that sometimes video games do not promote gender equality.

Vinnova, the Swedish Government Agency for Innovation Systemsms, is attempting to build awareness to the new rating system.

The system, which is for the moment nameless, will warn users about misogynistic behavior and displays in video games.

The agency will work with a number of game developers to determine how Swedish video games portray women.

So far Vinnova has provided the Swedish video-game trade group Dataspelsbranschen with a grant of approximately $280,9999 (KR) or $36,672 (U.S.) to develop the new rating, which will be inspired by the Bechdel test.

Vinnova works on a new rating system. A system that will warn users about misogynistic behavior and displays in video games.

The project manager for Dataspelsbranschen, Anton Albiin, has said that it’s not yet clear if all Swedish-made video games will get a label regarding their portrayal of female characters, or if companies that make games promoting equality will get a special certification to use for marketing their product.

Either way, he says, it will be a good step forward.

“I do not know of any other project in the world asking this question and of course we want Sweden to be a beacon in this area,” Albiin said.

When asked by the Local if the new rating will hinder creative expression, Albiin replied:

“Of course games can be about fantasy but they can be so much more than this. They can also be a form of cultural expression — reflecting society or the society we are hoping for. Games can help us to create more diverse workplaces and can even change the way we think about things.”

According to Dataspelsbranchen, only 16 percent of people working in the gaming industry in Sweden are women.

The main problem with implementing this sort of rating system is that it will pinpoint what consumers already know: a game with an ‘M’ rating for Mature such as Call of Duty or Assassin’s Creed, will be altered and labeled M for misogynist.

Another problem exists in the use of the Bechdel Test. For those unaware the Bechdel Test is used to measure a womans representation in a movie.

It was first introduced in 1985 in a comic strip called “Dykes” to watch out for, and is based off of 3 principles:

1. It has to have at least two women in it

2. Who talk to each other

3. About something besides a man

Since its creation it has become synonymous with the measurement of a female’s inclusion in films, and other media such as video games. However this isn’t an accurate measurement of their inclusion for the following reasons:

It sets the bar too low

While useful in the aggregate, as a universal guide it’s too simplistic and sets the bar too low.

Not only does it not allow for a female-driven film like “Gravity,” it also doesn’t address the context of what the female characters do for the film, and whether the film has any real interest in their stories.

Another problem exists with the context of the film Alien, which served as the punchline in the Bechdel test proves this reasoning.

In the movie Alien, Ripley and Lambert DO have a conversation about something other than a man, the alien. However this takes place after the captain of the ship was killed.

The entire basis of their conversation was created due to an event that happened to a man. While they do speak directly to each other about their survival, it doesn’t serve as fodder for the Bechdel test’s existence—or even its conception.

The test puts pressure on film makers to generate strong female leads

While we know that films should express more equal roles, we can’t necessarily force film makers to create movies that feature an independent female narrative.

We’ve seen movies such as The fault in our stars, If I stay, and even “Gravity” in the last 2 years premiere. The issue with these is that they will always fail the Bechdel test.

They don’t provide or fall within the parameters of the tests necessities. In fact they fall so outside of the standards that all three fall into Anita Sarkeesian’s “Damsel in distress trope”.

Essentially there isn’t a way to influence film makers to create female leads that aren’t either generic, based off of non-fiction characters, or created as a ‘prize,’or a detractor to the lead character.

Characters are based upon someone’s own ideals, and to try to localize a standard for which to create them isn’t fair.

Female film makers are less inspiring now than they were 60 years ago

Film makers like Anita Loos, Frances Marion, June Mathis, and Phoebe Ephron. In fact, more women were nominated for screenwriting awards in the ‘30s and ‘40s than in the last 20 years.

The truth is when female screenwriters are presented the opportunity, they rarely create a strong female lead.

This draws us to the conclusion that they understand the need to make money for the studio, the production company, and overall themselves outweighs their desire for an independent film.

When a female screenwriter decides to create a pet project they usually choose to create independent films.

This gives them the power to make a movie of their own creation from A-Z without risking a box office bomb, and securing 100% of the profits without a split.

While the production won’t be as high, it will still add to their professional resume, and serve as context for their fan base to enjoy.

Many of what the Bechdel tests represents is completely objective, and subject to the guidelines it presents to us as the viewer.

If you view a film using it as a measurement you’ll never enjoy it for its story, and will waste your time and money.

You should watch movies because you enjoy their cinematic quality, and plot. If you don’t and use the Bechdel test to decide for you, you’re better off making your own movie that you’ll watch alone.

Kenay Peterson
The Gaming Ground