A number of retailers in Australia have effectively banned Grand Theft Auto 5 after concerns were raised that it portrayed women in a poor light. Target and Kmart stores have pulled the game after a petition was launched against it and attracted 40,000 supporters. The game – which apparently depicts violence against women – was banned by Target after the retailer said that the “majority view of customers” believed that it shouldn’t be stocked. However, the retailers have been accused of censorship.
The petition, which was launched by defenders of domestic abuse, said that the game “encourages players to murder women for entertainment. The incentive is to commit sexual violence against women, then abuse or kill them to proceed…to see this violence that we lived through turned into a form of entertainment is sickening and causes us great pain and harm.”
The group behind the petition say that the game is likely to encourage ”yet another generation of boys to tolerate violence against women”. A counter-petition has been launched to get the game back into the stores, with the man behind it, Brett Herbert arguing that “This game may allow you to kill, hurt, bash and shoot anyone not just females and this game should be on the shelves all over the country. It’s made for adults not children, we have the right to buy games despite their content”.
The game has become the fastest-selling entertainment product ever, raising $1billion in just three days and winning over 30 awards. It’s been predicted that some US retailers may also remove it from sale after the success of the petition.
Do you think that the GTA franchise demeans women? Perhaps you feel the retailers have no right to act as censors? Tell us what you think in the comments section below.
