It was a racing game with simple mechanics but was silly and absurd enough to hold my attention.
But frequently, while looking over the character selection menu, Id encounter a small but gnawing internal conflict.
The characters had different strengths and weaknesses.
via: Nintendo / TheGamer
For example, Bowser and Donkey Kong took longer to accelerate but had a faster maximum speed.
Still, at the time, those other characters were generally believed to be males and referenced as such.
So, in an era where little girls rocked T-shirts with block letters that read “Girl Power!”
via: Nintendo
I wanted to be excited to see Princess Peach as a peer to Mario, Luigi and Bowser.
But something didnt seem quite right as I mulled my character options.
I didnt want to play as Princess Peach.
via: Respawn Entertainment
Shes a dainty princess that needs Mario and his crew to save her time and again.
Even back then, I understood the damsel-in-distress storyline is a lazy one.
But video games of the past werent exactly character-driven masterpieces.
Like so many others, I ignored the cookie-cutter formula in favor of following the heros journey.
I didnt hate Princess Peach, per se.
InSuper Mario Kart, her character had good acceleration and a strong offensive move.
She could be powerful when played correctly.
My main issue was that the only clearly female character inMario Kartwas a stereotype of femininity.
Princess Peach represents an ideal.
She has blue eyes, blonde hair, white skin and a poofy pink dress.
The problem isnt inherently with princesses, but with this particular character.
To be fair, it wasnt just Princess Peach reinforcing this worldview.
Society spoon-fed me the princess narrative my entire life, but I never bought into it.
I didnt have Barbie dolls.
While the other girls played House at recess, I played soccer.
However, theres something inherently uninspiring about those classic depictions of Peach.
Innately, we understood Mario, Luigi and even Bowser.
We grew with them and became part of their journeys.
She doesnt naturally seem to appeal to little girls who play video games.
Rather, she seems like a marketing executives idea of what appeals to little girls who play video games.
I understand its unrealistic to expect every single game out there to represent every unique aspect of gender expression.
Somehow, playing as this specific character felt more frustrating than not having a female character at all.
The Evolution Of Female Playable Characters Over Time
As I got older, games became more sophisticated.
Instead, I chose to be interesting.
My Guardian is a purple alien with an angled, bushy mohawk.
Red Dead Onlinealso lets players customize their characters.
So, I made my character an elderly woman with rough skin and messy red hair.
Many modern video games consider sensitivity issues when it comes to gender expression and identity.
In fact, these identities are so strong that players start to form bonds with them.
Theyve managed to create an entire universe driven by fans appetites for character lore.
Theres also anonbinary character.
This obviously a brand choice the power of the brand comes with peoples ability to recognize the characters.
Still, would it be so terrible for her to put on a pair of pants for a change?
What does she look like after shes changed a tire?
Its been decades since I first playedSuper Mario Kart.
Unfortunately, one thing hasnt changed:
I still dont want to play as Princess Peach.
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