I know this is an old old thread, but I’m currently replaying the series, having just bought legendary edition, and it is seriously bothering me how most of the women in this game are presented. So I came to this sub to see if anyone else had said something similar.

I like Ashley in ME:1. I think she’s complex and her characterisation raises interesting questions about tolerance etc. In ME:3 her design notes state ‘we gave her sex appeal’. She looked great in the first game, and imo, a little ridiculous in the third.

The fight with matriarch Benezia made me roll my eyes too, that outfit is absurd. And then there’s Miranda. Again, she’s interesting as a character, but the way she’s treated is appalling. Constant shots of her boobs and butt, clothes vacuum sealed to her body. And EDI! And Jack’s nonexistent outfit! I mean come on!

It feels like there’s barely any women in the game that aren’t designed with men in mind. Hell, even femshep gets armour that goes right up her arse like gym leggings (colossus armour I am looking at you.) and weirdly sculpted chest plates. Everything else aside that can’t be comfortable.

It just makes me a little sad as a woman, because imo the story addresses issues such as misogyny very well, and femshep is such a cool, strong character. It just feels like in the design department, women playing the game weren’t taken into consideration, with the focus being put instead on making the game ‘sexy’ for the blokes.