Let's talk about boobs.

So yesterday I was over on the facebook page Game Trader (if you're looking to buy and sell retro goodies and have a chat, this is my favourite place, bunch of awesome people) and got into a bit of a debate about the perception of gamer girls.

There was once a time (and very recently) when gamer girls were perceived to be obese, ugly nerds. Somewhere a long the line that changed drastically thanks to images of scantily dressed, pretty girls covering up their genitals with their Super Nintendo or making out with a 360 controller, thus the reinvention of the gamer girl.  I'm sure you've all seen the images but you can check a reference here.

But has this now created a problem of it's own? I sometimes find it genuinely difficult to post in forums or sell on line without getting hit on, I feel as though the 'gamer girl' has been sexualised so much that on occasion it's been difficult to be taken seriously. I don't need nor want to jump in pictures of my collection with my boobs hanging out, I just want to talk to like minded people and snap up some new gear.

It seems I am not alone. More and more meme's like these are showing up all around the Internet.

My question is why do looks and gender even play a part? Most of the gamer girls I know are smart, attractive women with jobs and children and husbands and they've certainly never posed half naked. As far as my opinion goes, if you're a genuine gamer your games should be all that matter, your pretty face, boobs and vagina...well they should just stay out of it.