A new video game, "Revenge on Gold Diggers," has unleashed a storm of debate over sexism in China. Players take on the role of male protagonists supposedly manipulated by women "after their money," and how they respond dictates the storyline. Following its rapid rise to the top of Steam's sales, backlash erupted, prompting the developers to rename it "Emotional Anti-Fraud Simulator." However, the renaming failed to quell the controversy.
Critics argue that the game's premise promotes derogatory stereotypes against women. One artist, Xu Yikun, highlights how terms like "gold digger" unfairly label women and reinforces harmful societal norms. But some players defend the game, claiming it does not necessarily target women and notes that both genders can exhibit manipulative behaviors.
Yet, the game's narrative shows women as all the scheming gold diggers, with lines encouraging players to measure love through financial gifts. The media response has been mixed; some praise the game's creativity while others condemn it for generalizing an entire gender.
Despite the criticism, the game's popularity only continues to swell, reconstructing how issues of emotional scams are discussed in contemporary China. Some individuals even draw parallels between the game's narrative and a tragic real-life incident involving a man who took his life after being labeled a "gold digger" victim.
Concerns persist over the implications of this game in a society where traditional roles often place women in subordinate positions. As calls for modern gender equality become increasingly vocal, the divide grows between traditionalists and those advocating for change. With discussions surrounding the game reflecting larger societal issues, its release has undoubtedly left a mark on the landscape of gender relationships in China.
