How's that for an attention-getting opener?

I'm really interested in the tidbit of a comment embedded in Chapter 9 about sexualized female bodies versus male bodies. It's not by Alexander, it's by Sheri Graner Ray from her book Gender Inclusive Game Design: Expanding the Market, and she basically says that in a lot of games the male body is young and virile (large muscles, slim hips) but not sexualized. The sexualized male body, she suggests, would include, "an erection, red lips, or heavily lidded eyes," (183). This made me laugh out loud- it sounds like Robert Smith from The Cure.

It sounds funny because it isn't really found anywhere in our culture. But just when I thought it was ridiculous, I imagined a woman with the same look, and could picture any number of pop-culture presences (I suppose Jessica Rabbit being the most obvious example). That is weird, when you think about it. But, then, are those sexualized versions of women not youthful and womanly (as compared to virile)? Or is there nothing sexual about a built dude with a small waist? Ultimately, I don't think we can judge what kind of sexual literacies a game espouses simply by its appearance. I think our judgments need to be based more on the opportunities for sexual expression that games provide, and that topic is well-handled by Alexander.