Laiferr: I understand what you are getting at. To many, they see it as 'just a game', and on the surface... it is just a game. They don't see your claims as legitimate because it's a fantasy world and therefore not something that directly affects real life.

I know that what YOU are looking at is the underlying trend, and what sort of stereotypes it perpetuates, whether or not anyone has been directly hurt by it. People will agree or disagree on this point, either because they don't think it is perpetuating stereotypes or because they don't think it matters.

As others have pointed out, males are stereotyped just as much -- being forced to wear the big, thick muscles and wide, powerful shoulders. Lalas are the only exception, but they also look like little children, so... I am not really counting them in this discussion (as much as I love Lalas!).

If we are going to argue for equality, we need to argue for both sides. That is, we need to listen to and identify with the males who also feel like they are being excluded. It's not a 'one sided' thing.