So as I was working on my Dark Elves, which you can now see in my off-topic showcase, I noticed the amount of female bodies (laugh all you want, I know what you’re thinking :)) in the kit. This got me thinking about how very few if none of the other armies include females at all. I mean, Dark Elves have Witch Elves, Sorceresses, Warriors, Crossbowmen, Death Hags, etc. Anyway, the other armies have almost none or next to no female models. I was wondering what other hobbyists thought of this and I would love to see you’re responses.
Indeed, there are numerous background reasons for most races no not feature females heavily, if at all.
I also remember trouble selling the female Dark Eldar Lord. The DEL came in at GW Retail in packs of two - one male, one female. The teenage boys all wanted the male, lest they “look gay”. In the end we had a full rack (no pub intended) of female DEL’s that only the adults would buy.
Wood Elves are more gender-neutral. The only elf unit in the army that doesn’t have female models, including generic lords and heroes, is the Wild Riders of Kurnous.
Yes, since Elves look androgynous, there’s no need to have dedicated female heads - just throw in some variant torsos and half your unit can be girls. With the Wood Elves it’s actually kind of difficult to tell in other units which ones are supposed to be women. When my fiancée was painting her Wardancers she thought one was female because he appeared to be wearing a halter top (I argued it was just a cord across another part of his torso, not the edge of a garment). You really can’t tell, especially when the males are muscular so they have bulging pectorals…
In fact if it wasn’t for the fact that the witch elves might ritually sacrafice you to Khaine, while simultaneously peeling the flesh off your bones so the can then drink your blood, they would be kinda hot.
As it is I’m guessing they are just pissed off and not mention cold; what, with nothing more the a chain mail belly-shirt/halter top and a leather thong. I’m guessing not the most comfortable and/or warm attire when out in the Land of Chill.
didn’t we have a thread sort of like this is WH sexist?
its because DE unit are made up of there family so there’s bound to be a mother/sister in there but i like the fact that there are both male & female in a unit (well not in some army’s:P)
It could also be that Dark Elves are a matriarchy and just like their D&D cousins the Drow, the females dominate and the males are used as ‘drones’ or ‘workers’. The males are able to fight as well as anyone, but the true power resides in the magical powers bestowed upon the females only…
It has nothing to do with being sexist, in fact countersexism and female chovenism is the norm in the Dark Elf armies…
@ Slev: I would have bought that, too bad though (he he he)
@ Furrie: Slaaneeshi daemons have no gender, they are male AND female.
Everyone here has left great answers, but just to clarify, I don’t think warhammer is sexist. Cornixt’s point is a very good one, and also makes sense. I just noticed that Dark Elves have more female models than the others.
you could make a female skink (IMO theres no difference)
Godbob and his jolly rogers
Female Skinks spend more on shoes than male Skinks do.
Humans are so numerous that they have the luxury of not needing to field their womenfolk on the battlefield. Dying races like Elves don't have that luxury. I wonder if Dwarven women fight on the battlefield (or tunnels)? I imagine they probably do.
(deamonettes), don’t know if that counts 