Out of the lot of my female friends when I was younger, usually got on me for playing video games. Sure, we all played video games, but they really weren't into them and rather watch movies or play dolls. I'm not kidding. I never owned a barbie doll. A few stuffed animals, but that was it. My BFF was my super nintendo, nintendo64, and sony playstation and became facinated with Aya Brea from Parasite Eve (PS1 game) and Final Fantasy. When my friends and SOMETIMES my mom got on me for not playing with dolls, I felt like I was being told what THEY wanted me to be and do than what I wanted to be a do. I want to be more than a gamer, but truely, I enjoyed them. I wasn't being told, "NO! I'M BEING BARBIE! YOU CAN BE KEN AND THE DOG!" There were no boundries, and I could do whatever. Just like my male friends who enjoyed video games, it was basically IN YOUR FACE action that took it's time and was close to any type of action that wowed as that we could get.
Most (not all) video games are geared towards men, but over time you now see that they want to attract both genders. I know plenty of women who love Halo, Gears of War, Metal Gear Solid, action/shooter games and even a fair share of Nintendo. They love it for it's story line and of course, game play. Then there are those who think video games degrade women like rap music. I'm not saying this is EXACTLY how they think it is, but they may feel that the image a video game gives off of women is telling them women are meant to be barely dressed, huge breasts with no stomach or any type of meat on their butt with a box of 1000 sexy/bada$$ quotes that will make their boyfriend or husband say, "Wow! I wish my wife was just like her." Plus not all women are not that fond of outrageous violence. There more violent video games that are to be released this year than ever before.
It's different for everyone, but this was just my thoughts.