This weekend I was watching my boyfriend and his friends play the video game Mario. It occurred to me while watching the game that the story we see throughout all the classic fairy tales has made it's way into the video game plots of today. Peach is a beautiful princess who has been captured by evil characters and hidden away. She is a classic damsel in distress, a woman in need of a strong man to rescue her. In comes Mario not your classic prince charming, actually an Italian plumber, but none the less he is her knight in shining armor, her savior. This video game marketed towards boys teaches the message we have referred to again and again throughout the semester. Women need men to come rescue them and save them from the problems of their lives. Peach does not try to escape on her own she waits for Mario her savior to come rescue her from danger. Boys are then playing the male role of saving females and this message is being taught as their job, their responsibility from a young age. Video games like this crop up all over reinforcing the classic knight and damsel in distress concept. Why do we still love and play these games regardless of the obvious stereotypes and warped message?
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