Genghis.Khan
Person
In the Development of the Civilization Series, there was always a quest to Represent Different Cultures, and in the later Games in the Series, especially in Civilization V, there was an urge to represent Female Leaders. Wheteter the reason for including Female Leaders is motivated by a matter of Marketing, facing the crescend numbers of Female Gamers, representing a Market Area almost as large of Male Gamers, especially in PC Gaming, as an research, led by Nielsen MegaPanel, published as The State of The Video Gamer, as well as in a Rock, Paper, Shotgun Article and/or motivated by Cultural Diversity and Female Representation issues.
However, in both Ocidental and Oriental Cultures, during History, Female Leaders were rare, due to Descrimination issues. From Ancient Times, Ocidental and Oriental Civilizations considered Female Human Beings, as an inferior race. It was extremely uncommon for a Female to become a Leader of a Historic-Relevant Empire. I do not support any discrimination praticed against the Female Gender, for Gender issues, but trough History, it was a common situation to happen. Even considering the small number of Female Rulers, we have to consider the sucessfull Female Rulers... The small number decreases. But lastly, and the most important we have to keep in mind that there were other Male Rulers, who have probably more Historic relevance or Empire Management performance that they did. Civilization V only allows one Leader per Civilization. That means that, the Leader for a Civilization should be an icon of the Empire it represents, must have an high Historic Relevance and must be a sucessfull ruler. My opinion is that, if two or more Leaders fill that Criteria, the Female one should take the Civilization Leadership for Cultural Diversity and Female Representation reasons. In any other case, the Leader who best fills those Criteria should be in charge of the Civilization Leadership.
After a quick analysis to Civilization V: Gods and Kings, plus DLC, and Annouced Brave New World Civilizations we find that, in 37 Civilizations, there are 10 Female Leaders: Maria Theresa (Austria), Theodora (Byzantium), Dido (Carthage), Boudicca (Celts), Wu Zetian (China), Elizabeth (England), Catherine (Russia), Isabella (Spain), Maria I (Portugal). Clearly the Numbers aren't balanced. But if we keep in mind History, it is obvious Firaxis has made a clear effort to add as much Female Leaders as Possible. After asking the question, 'Did all the Female Leaders Firaxis included in Civilization V deserved that spot?', the awser is no. It's not as bad as it could be. Personally, between the 10 Civilizations with Female Leaders, there are only 3 I completely disagree. Those are Carthage, China and Portugal. Dido is a mythological character, and her inclusion is absolutely ridiculous. Leaders are icons of Civilizations, but real ones, who played a Major Role in History. Not legendary Queens. Wu Zetian is hardly an icon of China, country who generated many Historic Relevant, iconic and Charismatic Leaders, not only Mao Tsé-Tsung, as I am not discussing Communist Ideologies, with which, I personally disagree, but as Qin Shi Huandgi for instance. Wu Zetian has also a very small role in History different from various Chinese Emperors. Portugal, my home country, is the reason I posted this Dicussion Thread. I was disappointed about the Anouncement of Maria, the Mad as the Leader of Portugal. An unsucessful, unwhorty, non-iconic, out-of-theme Leader, with a small Historic Relevance, among various deserving, sucessfull, iconic, themed Leaders as John II, Dinis, Afonso Henriques or John I. The only reason for the inclusion of Maria I, seems, at least for me, the quest for a balanced number of Leaders in terms of Gender, in the Brave New World Expansion. That brings up the main purpose of this thread. Is it justificable to add Female Leaders over Male Leader, using the Gender Factor over Historic Revelance, Empire Management Sucess, and/or Civilization Representation ones?
-- Genghis.Khan
However, in both Ocidental and Oriental Cultures, during History, Female Leaders were rare, due to Descrimination issues. From Ancient Times, Ocidental and Oriental Civilizations considered Female Human Beings, as an inferior race. It was extremely uncommon for a Female to become a Leader of a Historic-Relevant Empire. I do not support any discrimination praticed against the Female Gender, for Gender issues, but trough History, it was a common situation to happen. Even considering the small number of Female Rulers, we have to consider the sucessfull Female Rulers... The small number decreases. But lastly, and the most important we have to keep in mind that there were other Male Rulers, who have probably more Historic relevance or Empire Management performance that they did. Civilization V only allows one Leader per Civilization. That means that, the Leader for a Civilization should be an icon of the Empire it represents, must have an high Historic Relevance and must be a sucessfull ruler. My opinion is that, if two or more Leaders fill that Criteria, the Female one should take the Civilization Leadership for Cultural Diversity and Female Representation reasons. In any other case, the Leader who best fills those Criteria should be in charge of the Civilization Leadership.
After a quick analysis to Civilization V: Gods and Kings, plus DLC, and Annouced Brave New World Civilizations we find that, in 37 Civilizations, there are 10 Female Leaders: Maria Theresa (Austria), Theodora (Byzantium), Dido (Carthage), Boudicca (Celts), Wu Zetian (China), Elizabeth (England), Catherine (Russia), Isabella (Spain), Maria I (Portugal). Clearly the Numbers aren't balanced. But if we keep in mind History, it is obvious Firaxis has made a clear effort to add as much Female Leaders as Possible. After asking the question, 'Did all the Female Leaders Firaxis included in Civilization V deserved that spot?', the awser is no. It's not as bad as it could be. Personally, between the 10 Civilizations with Female Leaders, there are only 3 I completely disagree. Those are Carthage, China and Portugal. Dido is a mythological character, and her inclusion is absolutely ridiculous. Leaders are icons of Civilizations, but real ones, who played a Major Role in History. Not legendary Queens. Wu Zetian is hardly an icon of China, country who generated many Historic Relevant, iconic and Charismatic Leaders, not only Mao Tsé-Tsung, as I am not discussing Communist Ideologies, with which, I personally disagree, but as Qin Shi Huandgi for instance. Wu Zetian has also a very small role in History different from various Chinese Emperors. Portugal, my home country, is the reason I posted this Dicussion Thread. I was disappointed about the Anouncement of Maria, the Mad as the Leader of Portugal. An unsucessful, unwhorty, non-iconic, out-of-theme Leader, with a small Historic Relevance, among various deserving, sucessfull, iconic, themed Leaders as John II, Dinis, Afonso Henriques or John I. The only reason for the inclusion of Maria I, seems, at least for me, the quest for a balanced number of Leaders in terms of Gender, in the Brave New World Expansion. That brings up the main purpose of this thread. Is it justificable to add Female Leaders over Male Leader, using the Gender Factor over Historic Revelance, Empire Management Sucess, and/or Civilization Representation ones?
-- Genghis.Khan
Could maybe separate the writing into paragraphs so its easier to read its hurting my eyes trying to read.
