This archive report was first published on 15 September 2019.
As I reflect on my journey into the world of gaming, I'm reminded of the words of a critic who once described the female characters in Grand Theft Auto: 'They tend to be either prostitutes or nagging wives, slutty daughters or abusive mothers.'
However, my experience with the game was different. I fell in love with it, and it was all thanks to my boyfriend. He introduced me to the online version of Grand Theft Auto V, where I could create my own character of either sex. I finally had the chance to create a perfect likeness of myself.
My boyfriend and I now take turns playing a terrifying version of Eve, rolling through the fictionalized streets of Los Angeles, ruining lives, stealing cars, and murdering both the police officers who chase us and strangers on the street with glee. She is a sociopathic badass, often donning a baby-pink ski mask.
While I never want to actually be her, boy do I love to pretend! The game has become a fun and exciting way for us to spend time together, and I've discovered a new passion in gaming.
Of course, the Grand Theft Auto franchise has a reputation for being the most 'bad for kids' game around. After the latest spate of mass shootings, some politicians blamed video games for the tragedies. However, research continues to show that there's no link between enjoying a first-person shooter game and actually doing crimes.
As violent as Grand Theft Auto is, it's also full of cheeky commentary about the world that birthed it. The game itself is a parody of our culture's excesses and extremes. And healthy gamers, no matter their gender, understand that – limiting their rapaciousness to the virtual world.
