The Last Of Us

This paper examines the portrayal of female characters in video games, focusing on the popular duology The Last of Us and The Last of Us Part II. Despite strides in including strong female characters, video games often continue to underrepresent women or portray them in highly sexualized ways that align with the male gaze (Gestos, Smith-Merry, and Campbell 2018; Kondrat 2015;). This paper highlights how The Last of Us breaks from such patterns by presenting Ellie and Abby as complex, empowered female protagonists, rather than the typically sexualized or objectified female characters in the industry. Applying Cultivation Theory, this paper considers how non-sexualized female characters like Ellie can positively impact players by challenging stereotypes and providing relatable role models (Bartlett and Harris 2008). By giving Ellie a lesbian identity and including LGBTQ+ characters such as Lev, The Last of Us Part II contributes to broader representation and insights into the experiences of diverse identities. This paper argues that The Last of Us offers a new paradigm in gaming where female characters are complex, realistic, and inclusive, suggesting a way forward for a more inclusive gaming culture.