I want to start off this blog post with a paragraph from Chapter 4 of “Play Like a Feminist” by Shira Chess that I found very powerful:
At the core of this book, I am making the argument that feminists need to think about video games differently: not in terms of their current cultural status, but as a playground for future feminist leisure. To once again answer Kishonna’s question (Why invite more women into the onslaught?), my response is simple: because we belong here. Because feminism needs to engage more with play and better play, and the best possible way to do this is through video games. If we are able to disrupt the toxic, frequently antifeminist forces that dominate the video game industry, we will have moved further toward human equality. In order to work better, think better, and be better, we need to play more games.
This reading was very powerful, and I found the section on telling Feminist stories in Games most applicable to this week’s game I played: Stardew Valley. Stardew Valley is an indie farming simulator created by the solo developer, Eric (Concerned Ape) Barone in 2016. It has had multiple updates within the last years, implementing a lot of new content. I am revisiting this game with a new feminist view from the reading. The reading discussed how there are “hardcore” games, and mostly those who play these “hardcore” games consider themselves as a “gamer”. In fact, according to the chapter, 49% of adults play video games but only 10% of them actually consider themselves a “gamer”. I think this fits Stardew Valley because when I was discussing this game with some friends, we were having a debate on whether or not Stardew Valley made you a “Gamer”. Most of the people in this discussion disagreed and said that Stardew Valley doesn’t count as that because it is very casual. This plays into what the chapter was talking about on how many feminists are on the edge of a circle of the video games they choose to play, only choosing the few that better form the rationales for feminism, which is what this author is now trying to break the stereotype of, as discussed by the paragraph from the chapter I started this blog post about.
Overall, in this blog post, I want to explore what it means to play Stardew Valley as a feminist. I will critique its approach to feminist themes and suggest how feminist theorists could further enhance the game’s design and impact because although Stardew Valley provides a gender-neutral gameplay that aligns with many feminist principles, it still falls short in fully embracing feminist theories to challenge and diversity character roles and narratives.
When starting a Stardew Valley run, I was met with choosing either a male or a female character, but regardless of which character I chose, I ended up with the same starting point. This aspect aligns with feminist theories advocating for equality and the dismantling of traditional gender roles, resonating with Chess’s argument for more inclusive gaming environments that challenge masculinity. I also noticed that the game’s relationship dynamics, which allow players to form bonds and marry characters regardless of gender aligns with Chess’s point showcasing a progressive stance on sexual orientation and relationship norms. I played the female character, and when I tried to increase my romance with Leah with Salad (one of her loved foods according to the Wiki), it ended up working and her romance levels increased (Figure 1). It was very enjoyable to see how the game allows you to have all the potential and relationships that you would want to have, not limiting it by gender.
However, playing Stardew Valley with a feminist perspective also uncovers areas where the game could better embody feminist principles, particularly in how it handles the narrative and agency within relationships. While the game offers freedom in player choices, the interactions often lack depth and fail to escape traditional narratives. For instance, when I looked up online what happens once you fully max out the relationship hearts, I realized that every single relationship you could have with any of the NPCs ultimately ends up in marriage, which adheres to a conventional notion of romantic success and personal fulfillment. This adherence to normative milestones could be critiqued from a feminist viewpoint, which might argue for a broader representation of relationship success beyond marital or romantic achievements, as suggested by Chess’s discussion on breaking away from traditional storytelling in games.
In addition, after I interacted with characters like Emily and Haley, I realized they embody traditional feminine traits and domestic roles, which I think is a very missed opportunity for ConcernedApe to challenge this view and diversify character roles more radically. For instance, Emily works at the Stardrop Saloon and loves to make her own clothing (figure 2), which showcases how some of the female characters often fall into typical gender stereotypes. Stardew Valley, while progressive in some respects, still conforms largely to safe, traditional character arcs that do not fully engage with the complexities of gender and identity politics.
I believe that Stardew Valley could have a more robust feminist perspective by integrating storylines that explicitly address and challenge gender norms and stereotypes. By incorporating narratives that feature characters engaging in non-traditional roles or depicting successful relationships that do not end up in marriage, the game could align more with Chess’s advocacy for games as a tool for feminist storytelling and social change.
In conclusion, Stardew Valley offers a lot of great gender-neutral choices in the gameplay and has many great features that align with feminist principles; however, it still falls short of fully realizing the potential of feminist theories to reshape narrative and character dynamics profoundly. Stardew Valley could foster a gaming environment that not only entertains but educates and empowers the players if it were to embrace a broader spectrum of feminist perspectives.
Discussion Question: How would you change Stardew Valley to incorporate more feminist principles to the game?
Figure 1: Leah’s reaction to me giving her salad.
Figure 2: Emily at the Stardrop Saloon.
