Loud & Proud

Why FemShep?

I get asked this a lot “Why do you only play FemShep?” and honestly I don’t understand why I am asked this, it would be like me asking “Why do you breath?” because you just do. Another more shallow reason why, which I am not ashamed to admit, is because I don’t like how MaleShep’s voice sounds, not that Mark Meer’s voice annoys me. It’s just the fact that MaleShep’s voice is dull and the more then standard voice for hero’s in video games and movies nowadays and it slowly just becomes mind numbing for me.

Anyways back to what I was saying. I play FemShep because besides the fact that I am a girl, I find her and or any strong Female character either in games, books, or movies a welcome breath of fresh air. In fact I remember the first girl I really looked up to as a child was Sailor Moon, not only because she could turn into the earths greatest super hero, but for the fact that she was young and confused about almost everything, but when it came down to it even though she may not know what to do and be scared of what her actions might cause, she trusted her heart and her friends enough to know that what she was doing was the right thing to do.

FemShep holds a special place in my heart and mind because she is what we all would define as a strong woman, and the fact that she holds her morals and past relationships with her friends or lover/s and learns from the mistakes she makes shows a more in-depth character then we all thought. And also just the fact that she can stand up to a Krogan (and or even headbutt one) without a second thought makes me very happy (every time I see her headbutt a Krogan I imagine that Krogan being one of the many sexist pig male gamer’s that continues to bark about girls as if they are objects).

Jennifer Hale who voices FemShep does a wonderful job at creating a more palpable character, wither FemShep is being inspirational in convincing the Quarians to not attack the Geth and to work with them instead. Or showing her vulnerable side when she falls in love, or maybe even just a simple thing as letting herself laugh when her friends make a funny joke or her just being in love with a charming man. All this and yet never once do we see FemShep cry, we do see how certain parts in the game define her even more and shows she can be depressed (such as when she talks to Garrus about seeing the little boy on earth, or after their failed mission on Thessia) But threw all this she keeps going, keeps moving forward, because no matter what she has a mission to do.

FemShep has inspired me to be a stronger woman, and to not take let down after let down and nay sayers to keep me down. That I must go on even if it is tough because at the end of it, you know in your heart what you did was right.

Isabela in Dragon Age 2 said it best : “You have to be twice as tough to earn half as much respect.”

and I personally think that FemShep delivers on this beautifully. (and before anyone point’s this out, Yes I know the lines are the same except for a few bits here and there, My personally thought is just that Jennifer Hale did the better job as Commander Shepard)