This list compiles three female video game characters that are so badass that they rival any of their male counterparts. These are women that you do not want to mess with, and the antagonists in their game learn that the hard way. These three girls prove that not only can a girl be tough and awesome, but that male gamers have no problem playing a game with a female in a major role.

Lara Croft

Lara Croft is one of the original badass femme fatales in video games. She is the female version of Indiana Jones in video game form. She is a badass down to her very core. Whether she is climbing a mountain, digging though a cave or killing bad guys, Lara can get it done.

Sure, the quality of the Tomb Raider games has slipped over the years, but one thing that stands the test of time is how tough Lara Croft is. Even in the worst Tomb Raider games, Lara still stands out as a great character and is without a doubt one of the most badass girls in gaming.

Jill Valentine

Jill walked into a house filled with zombies and was immediately separated from her squad mates. Not only did she survive this ordeal, but she thrived. Zombie dogs are jumping through a window and attacking from behind? No problem. Oh, you want her to fight a giant zombie plant? Sure, Jill can handle that. You want her to survive an attack from a giant monster three times her size? Yeah, why not? Jill will take him out too.

Jill also bucked the trend because unlike Lara Croft, she did not have a disproportionate body type, if you catch my drift. She was built much more like an average human being, and that was refreshing to see in video games. She was attractive, but in a much more normal way.

Samus Aran

Spoiler Alert from 1986; Samus is a girl! I remember how shocked I was at the end of Metroid when Samus removed her helmet. Samus is the original badass female game character. Back when Zelda and Peach were being kidnapped, and it was up to the male characters to rescue them, Samus was shooting lasers and bombs at anyone who opposed her.

Samus is not only one of the most badass female video game characters, but she is also one of the most important because she made gamers realize that a female can get the job done just as well as any male.

Samus is a space bounty hunter who kills thousands of bad guys in each one of her games. Honestly, does it get much more badass than that? The first Metroid was, in my opinion, one of the hardest games in the history of video games, and the only reason it was possible was because the crazy armament of weapons at Samus Aran’s disposal. There was literally nothing Samus couldn’t do, and that is why she is one of the most badass female video game characters of all time.

Conclusion

The important thing to note here is that I made a gender distinction, but realistically, these three women could easily be included in a list of the top most badass video game characters in general. I just chose to separate male and female to make sure the females stood out and received the attention they deserved. Speaking of males, next week I will bring you the most badass male video game characters.

Who do you think are the toughest female video game characters? Let us know in the comments!

I took into consideration that quite a bit of the blouses, skirts, and shoes on this site look fairly similar to the stuff in my girlfriend’s closet, so I figured that it has to be good. As far as I know, she has taste, so ladies, this post is for you.

Find Rare Items And Accessories

I’d liken this site to being a fashion aggregator, utilizing a social networking type of system to bring its users together so that they can share links of clothing and accessories from all over the Internet. What I noticed was that quite a bit of the site includes either hand-made or not-very-well-known items (and yes, a great deal of mainstream products), so if you’re into appearing unique and different, then this site is for you. Granted, there isn’t only clothing on this site, but it’s safe to say that it’s the main selection.

What I did like about the site was the fact that it offered a system of collections in which users can find similar items. It was through the collections that I discovered that there were a few men’s items on the store as well as places to buy candy. In addition to this, there are collections of apartment furnishings, iPhone accessories, and even bridal adornments. Honestly, I think it’s pretty cool that you can find all this stuff online.

Build Up Your List Of Fav Selections

Since Wanelo is primarily user-generated, you can trust that it’s not just one solitary person or company throwing what they think looks good at you. Chances are that there are a few individuals on Wanelo who think like you do (albeit this concept of appearing unique), and one of the features of the site gives you the option to follow them and stay updated on their top picks. Furthermore, if you fancy a certain merchant’s products just as much as your friends’ selections, you can follow the stores themselves on the site.

One of the cool options that Wanelo has to offer is its toolbar button, and this is used in the same exact way that you would use StumbleUpon. If you find something, just click the toolbar button, and voilà – you have successfully contributed to the community clothing melting pot. Alternatively, you can just punch in the URL on Wanelo itself, but really, what fun is that?

Share Your Finds

Based on what I found on the site, Wanelo is also used as a means to share your style with your friends. What does that mean? Well, as they say, this means no more ugly Christmas sweaters as gifts (bet you wish I had written this sooner). Furthermore, you can find out what your friends like, so when a proper time to give gifts comes around, you can get what they want with no awkward questions asked.

Conclusion

I’m not going to veer away from my standard flannel shirts, but chances are you might find something pretty nice on here (and yes, that goes for the men, too). However, all in all, this site is very well made, and it does exactly what it is designed to do. That’s the best thing that a site really can do – just keep it simple.

What kinds of things have you found using Wanelo? Do you know of any other sites like Wanelo?

Yet there are still a few particular issues that games struggle to overcome, and they have nothing to do with technology. One of these is sexism, and the impact it has on any woman who picks up a controller.

Only A Certain Type Of Woman Is Depicted

We don’t need to dig deep to talk about sexism in games. Negative body images in games are readily apparent.

Even at best, it’s blatant. In Star Wars: The Old Republic, female characters have four body types, one of which is allegedly an overweight character.  Of course, the largest female character model actually looks quite average. The overweight male body type, on the other hand, is pretty chunky.

The message this displays is clear, and not unusual. It’s okay for guys to have some extra pounds. For women, that isn’t acceptable. This becomes particularly amusing when the game depicts elderly women. They retain their womanly curvature, as if frozen in time from the head down at age 22.

Such depictions are not exclusive to video games, of course. The insistence that women must conform to a certain “hourglass” body type is also reinforced by thousands of TV shows, books, movies, and other forms of media.

Yet in most of these, women with different bodies are at least portrayed. In games, women who don’t conform to a certain (often unrealistic) standard are often simply not there – which sends a clear message. If you don’t conform to their standards of beauty, you’re not worth depiction by game studios, nor the attention of gamers in general.

There Are Few Strong Female Leads

The problem goes beyond mere visibility, however. Even those women who are visible in games are rarely given a strong role in the story. Instead they’re usually objects, either depicted as trophies to be admired and won or as sexual bad-asses.

Hilariously, some game developers and critics seem to be under the impression that creating a character that fits the second option is progressive. Batman: Arkham City’s depiction of Catwoman is a good example of this. Apparently no one thought of making her a strong character by depicting her as intelligent, instead.

There are exceptions. One of my favorite game characters of all time in Alyx Vance from Half-Life 2, a well-written and interesting character that somehow manages to kick butt while keeping her clothes on. Yet even Alyx is a non-player character, and has a bit of a thing for the main character, Gordon Freeman.

When asked to think of a strong female lead character in a video game who isn’t heavily sexualized, I can think of only two examples. One is Jade from Beyond Good and Evil, and the other is Shepard from Mass Effect (who can be played as a man or woman). That’s it. And even here, the characters conform to the hourglass stereotype.

There Are Few Women In The Industry

According to common knowledge, gamers are young and male. The only problem with this argument is that it’s not true. According to surveys, the average gamer is over 30, and women make up a large part of the gaming audience, ranging from about 25% to almost 40%.

Despite this, less than 12% of the people working in game development are women according to a 2010 survey.

This is a problem for two reasons. First, it is the source of the other problems I’ve touched on previously. Perhaps if women were more common in the industry, we wouldn’t see gems like this, a quote taken from an interview with Bayonetta developer Hideki Kamiya.

“1UP: From behind!?

HK: Well yeah, from behind you can’t see the face, but what strikes me is how the woman is standing, or the way they stand, instead of just the ankles.

1UP: You know, I’ve gotta say, I don’t think you’re being honest with me. Because when you’re looking at a woman from behind, and you’re trying to tell me that you’re “looking at her face,” I don’t know if I buy that.

HK: Oh. [Laughs]

1UP: Oh. [Laughs]

HK: But anyway that’s how we’re creating Bayonetta’s moves and all that, and that’s actually the most fun part of this game, thinking about all that stuff. So you will be able to see what everybody in the team likes in a girl from the finished project.”

The subtitle of this interview, by the way, is “We sit down for a chat with one of gaming’s most visionary designers.”

The other half of this problem is that it contributes to the issue of invisibility. Smart, creative women are rarely visible in the industry. Those who are visible tend to become so for the wrong reasons. Jade Raymond, an attractive young woman who worked on Assassin’s Creed, has had journalists groveling over her and has had the pleasure of being featured in pornographic comics (the link is to a news article, not the comic). Is she good at her job? Maybe she is, or maybe she isn’t. No one seems to be commenting on that.

Conclusion

Sexism in games is not unique. All three of these points boil down to old-fashioned sexual objectification. In each case, women are sent the message that their sexual appearance and/or appetite are their most important traits. I think fixing this issue is ultimately the responsibility of the game studios. They must hold themselves to a higher standard. Studios should focus on depicting women as important for reason beyond their looks.

Will this happen? Unfortunately, I see no reason why it would. The problem is in the bones of the industry. Since there are so few women working on games, the idea of working on games is less appealing to women. It’s intimidating. And thus, the problem does not get fixed.

Let us know what you think in the comments.

But gadgets, as cool as they are, are by no means the only tech-related gift you can get for the woman in your life. In fact, there are many original things out there that while they’re not technology in the full sense of the word, are very likely to appeal to anyone who’s interested in it (not just women!).

Not all of these ideas for the top holiday gifts are right for everyone, of course, but I’m sure that at least one gift from this list will help you make whoever she is happy this holiday season. And to our women readers, feel free to share this list with that person who’ll be desperately looking for something cool pretty soon. What do you have to lose?

Chocomize

Everyone loves chocolate. And on the off chance they just like it (and not love it), they’re going to love creating it.

Chocomize’s idea is to let you customize your chocolate exactly the way you (or someone else) love it. The chocolate base is excellent (I’ve tried it several times) and there are almost endless options for add-ons. You can choose between milk, white and dark chocolate (which is actually vegan!) and then start adding up to five different ingredients to your chocolate.

If you think merely getting the chocolate is not enough, you can always get a gift certificate and let her create it herself!

Chocomize only ships to the US and Canada (which is understandable, chocolate is hard to ship). The base costs ~$4 per bar, and ingredients range from $0.40 to $1.95 each.

Magnet Toys

If chocolate is not her thing, how about a cool toy that will keep her busy for hours on end? Rare-earth magnet toys are gaining popularity, and for good reason. They can make a great gift she will remember and still use even years ahead. Here are several options.

Buckyballs: These come in many different colors, shapes and sizes, and you can also get pretty nice gift packs. The basic Buckyballs cost $34.95 (more for different colors) and Buckycubes go for $24.95. They ship worldwide.

ZenMagnets: While their website is not as slick, ZenMagnets are knows for quality products and a brave attitude. A basic pack goes for $32.98, and for $38.24 you’ll get the same thing in a nice package. Ships worldwide.

NanoDots: The most expensive option, but is worth the investment if you’re looking for the absolute best. These come in 4 different colors in prices ranging from $39.99 to $49.99. Ships Worldwide.

T-Shirts

Another good option is always apparel. In this case, T-shirts. There are many good places to get geeky and tech-oriented T-shirts. Here are some of the best ones:

ThinkGeek: ThinkGeek offers TONS of geeky, funny and cute t-shirts (and lots of other things if you feel like browsing). All the way from xkcd shirts to superhero shirts and even geeky maternity wear, there’s lots to choose from here. Shirts average at around $20.

Shirt Woot!: Shirt Woot offers one new t-shirt for $10 almost every day, and a limited number of other designs for $15. These are not as geeky as the ones on ThinkGeek, but there are truly awesome finds to be had. Ships to many countries.

MakeUseOf shirts: If you’re shopping for someone who just happens to also be a MakeUseOf fan, why not gift her one our t-shirts? I personally own two of them, and they make me feel like a true geek when I wear them. Shirts are $16.95 each, and you’re not limited to just the women’s, they all look good! Ships worldwide.

Laptop Bag/Case From Etsy

There are plenty of beautiful things to be found on Etsy, but one of the things I would love most to get, is one of the Womansgirl laptop bags and cases. Here you’ll find a wide selection of truly beautiful bags and cases that will make any laptop owner happy.

If you find something you absolutely love but it’s not available in the size you need it, don’t hesitate to contact the seller. She might be able to help you get exactly what you’re looking for. Prices vary widely, shipping is worldwide and shipping costs are fair.

Phone/Tablet/eReader Cases

Getting the actual gadget as a gift is not always possible. But why not help her make her already existing gadget beautiful, cool or funny? Here are two great place where you can find original and beautiful cases for almost any device.

Headcase: You won’t find a wide variety here, but you will find a really awesome Etch-A-Sketch case for the iPhone or iPad, and the TurnTablet. There’s not need to explain what an Etch-A-Sketch is. If you think turning her iPad into one will make her dreams come true, you’ve come to the right place. iPhone cases cost $25 and iPad cases go for $39. Ships worldwide.

SkinIt: Not everyone owns an iPhone or iPad, and some people might not like Etch-A-Sketch. For a far wider variety of devices and themes, check out SkinIt. Start by choosing your device (which can be almost anything, including mp3 players), then choose your theme and your case. You can even create a custom one if you wish. There’s also a wide variety of cases for various needs. Prices vary according to devices. Ships worldwide.

Conclusion

Hopefully, finding the right thing for a tech-loving woman just got a lot more fun! If none of these items appeal to you, use them as inspiration to find the perfect gift.

Have more suggestions? We’d love to hear about them in the comments.

Image credit: Shutterstock

Now, I’ve learned a thing or twelve since then, but I’ve forgotten all of them. So on with the article, and my whimsical take on7 Websites Women Should Find Interesting.

7. EmpowHER

More focused on women’s health issues than general medical sites like WebMD, EmpowHer shares not only sound advice but the stories of women who have overcome challenging situations such as breast cancer, menopause, and heart disease. To hear the story from the mouth of an average woman and see her eyes as she talks about it, can only serve to let other women know that they are not alone. They can overcome too.

EmpowHer has a clean, easy to use layout featuring news stories, community involvement, health resources and links to health care providers. What I really like about this site is its pedigree. Michelle King Robson is the founder of this site, and she is also someone who has had female health problems. She suffered through the after-effects of a hysterectomy and went on to use her negative experience to provide a much more positive one for thousands of women.

6. Cooking for Engineers

Before the flames begin (and I know they will no matter what I say) Cooking for Engineers is not a comment on the so-called traditional role of women as home makers.

Instead, this site is included to reach out to those women who build homes! Or anything else for that matter. Hey, we all have to eat! So why not appeal to the analytical mind of those science-oriented ladies out there?

I love the absolute precision with which the recipes are laid out. They tell you what to do, and why, just as any good geek would want it. Check this out:

Banana Nut Bread (about 10 servings)

I love my banana bread! Even more, I love my tables!

5. MIT OpenCourseWear – Women’s and Gender Studies

Confused a bit about why it’s called Women’s and Gender Studies? Because really, wouldn’t it be more inclusive to simply call it Gender Studies? MIT’s OpenCourseWear program is an excellent source for people that want to learn more, in an academic, structured manner but may not have the time or money to commit to a college education.

The courses are NOT for credit and cannot be applied towards a certificate, diploma or degree. you can access the materials for free. Keeping in mind that the cost to MIT to present these materials is about $10,000 per course, you may want to donate a few dollars, or whatever you can spare, for each course that you work through.

4. Susie’s AlaskaMen

Don’t take my word for this site. I asked my lovely wife what a good website would be for women to look at real, sexy, everyday men. Before I could get the question out of my mouth, she told me about this site, perhaps a little too excitedly. Is that a bad sign?

Apparently there are way more men than women in Alaska, (4:1 ratio) and the men tend to live active, outdoor lives that give them that rugged, silent type thing that some women are really into. I’m more of the soft-around-the-middle over-opinionated type. Hmmmm.

Susie knows her stuff as the bride of a man who moved to Alaska seeking adventure. Well, I’m sure living with a woman who is the expert on Alaskan men is adventure enough! Good for you Susie!

3. Bad Ass of the Week

Yes, BAOTW is back in this list. Why, you might ask? Because no one combines history and insight into self-assertiveness like a bad ass. That, and I hear that women like bad boys. I wouldn’t know since I’m pretty vanilla.

But seriously, being able to assert one’s self and stand up for what they believe is not the sole-domain, nor a defining characteristic of men only. I daresay that those women that were bad asses did more to change the world for the better than any ten of the bad ass men listed. My personal favourite is Harriet Tubman.

Harriet Tubman personally freed some 1,000 enslaved people, going back and forth into hostile areas. The slave-states had a bounty on her head worth what would be about 4 million dollars today. Harriet is not only an example to women, oppressed people but to all humans who should face tyranny and bring tyranny down. She who saves a life, saves the world, to paraphrase a famous quote.

2. Parenting

Although I take issue with this site, and magazine, being called ‘Parenting’ and not having a section for Dads, overall it is an excellent resource for parents of any gender.

It is a commercial venture and has a fair bit of advertising, yet it does cover the gambit from pre-pregnancy to childhood. Articles by experts in the field, parents, and product reviews serve to help you navigate the oft-travelled seldom-mapped world of parenthood.

1. The F-Word

I was unable to find a site that was similar in nature to The Art of Manliness but for women.  Perhaps you might enlighten me. However, what I did find was a website called The F-Word. That word being, shhhh…..‘feminism’. Oh, I said it! I went there.

What appeals to me about this site, and I believe it will appeal to all genders, is that it accentuates the feminine in feminism. The F-Word addresses activism, equal rights, politics and stereotypes in a way that doesn’t scream man-hater.

It is unfortunate that such a small faction of feminists has turned off so many people from the true aims of feminism. The F-Word is full of professional and user-generated content that is sure to enlighten anyone who would take the time to be objective for just a few minutes.

There it is – my take on 7 Interesting Websites for Women. For what it’s worth, I know there are more out there, that you may deem more worthy. However, these are sites that can benefit anyone of any gender and hopefully contribute to a better day for all ahead.

Ladies, can you tell us your favourite and essential sites?

I would say these sites have a tendency to appeal to women more than to men. But please have a look at them yourself and whether you’re a guy or a gal, feel free to correct me if I’m wrong.

So with springtime ahead of us, get those creative spirits in gear and prepare yourself for a fresh start into whatever you fancy.

1. Swapstyle & Big Wardrobe

Maybe what you fancy is a new wardrobe?

Just recently I introduced several sites that allow for swapping of books and other items. With Swapstyle there is a service targeted at women who would like to swap fashion items, such as cosmetics, shoes, accessories and of course clothes.

Big Wardrobe is not just for women, but also for kids and men.

Both sites operate internationally and are free to use, although you can spend $10 for having your address verified at Swapstyle.

So be easy on your finances, go green and swap your stuff instead of throwing it away and buying new.

2. Unclutterer

Unclutterer is a blog about getting and staying organized.

Posts range from tips and tricks on how to change personal habits, over guides on getting started, to practical tools. Topped with pictures from the “workspace of the week”, Unclutterer provides the perfect incentives to take that spring cleaning action to the next level.

But don’t get fooled by the Unitasker Wednesday posts and don’t fall for similarly useless items.

3. Home Design Find

This blog features stylish products and ideas for your home.

The best part of the site are definitely its how to, tips, advice, DIY, and home improvement posts. But I also love to see the works of architects and designers.

My favorite posts are:

17 Clever Tips for Around the House

The Wicked Sliding House by dRMM Architects

Do It yourself: Top Tips on How to Paint Walls

Maybe you can draw a few ideas to improve your own home from this site. I certainly did.

4. MopShots

Somewhere I read “Is a Haircut the new Botox?” Apparently, the right haircut can make you several years younger. However, most women will agree that finding the right hairdresser is almost as difficult as finding the right partner.

If you’re in the US, you may find the right hairdresser through MopShots by going through images of hair styles they created. And if you would like to recommend your personal hairdresser, submit a shot of your latest cut.

If you’re not from the US, at least you may find inspiration for your next haircut. Either way, the hair seen at that site is awesome!

5. Handbag

Can you imagine a woman without a handbag? Well, I actually can as I don’t like handbags, but I realize I’m in a minority. So an online handbag would certainly seem like an essential feature of a woman’s daily web consumption.

Handbag really wraps it all up. There’s articles on fashion, beauty, hair, relationships, dieting and well being, as well as celebrity and entertainment gossip. And all articles can be delivered through RSS or email. What more could a woman ask for?

What is your favorite, stylish website and are there any for men that you can recommend? Please share your secrets with us!

Image credits: erwinbacik, dimitri_c