General Discussion

Okay, this has been on my mind for a while, and I've decided to put the cat amongst the pigeons and say it.

I really do think that female characters in MMO's get preferential treatment, if the other player's think you are a woman in RL.

For awhile, I wondered if it was just my imagination.  Just small things, like when you log on and only one or two fellow guildies would say, 'hello', but then when a female player logged on, I would laugh as just about the entire guild jumped to say 'hello' to them. 

I had never rolled a female character, as I just think it is a bit odd doing so, when you know that a lot of other players may mistake you for being female in Real Life.  However, the other day I was rolling an alt, and I decided to make it female.  A couple of hours into the game session I was staggered to see the way I was treated differently.  People willing to team-up, especially the higher levelers wanting to 'help me out',  Assistance with in game money, quests, and items, not a problem. 

Also though, and I genuinely have some sympathy for real female gamers here, I got the occassional harrassment.  Almost always, I was asked by a fellow team member my 'A/S/L', and if I did not immediately tell them I was a man in real life, some of them would actually make some lude comments.  This happened 'EVERY' time I logged in with this alt, so I know it is not a one-off.

I understand that the main demographic that plays these games are teenage boys, and the more over zealous of them is without doubt the main cause for this.  However, it was an eye-opener, and not in a good way.  If I was a female in RL, then I would not like any of this treatment, even the kind offers of help, you never knew if it was for ulterior reasons or not.  I know that the counter arguement is that a female gamer could just roll a male character, but then is that not just accepting that sexism is rife within these games, and we have just accepted it?  Not that I am on any specific morale crusade here, I just thought that it was interesting the different way you get treated. 

Anyone else experienced this?  And more interestingly; has anyone else deliberately used this to their advantage, if so how?

I would say that it depends on whether the person is actually female or not. I play female characters all the time but I also don't loop people into believing that I am female IRL.
 

lso, the stigma of gamers this day in age is that none have a girlfriend and have a hard time speaking to the opposite sex face to face so they let the computer screen be the division and their comfort. Thus resulting in some guys slobbering all over their keyboard at the slightest sign of estrogen in the air.

Originally posted by Locklain

I would say that it depends on whether the person is actually female or not. I play female characters all the time but I also don't loop people into believing that I am female IRL.
 

lso, the stigma of gamers this day in age is that none have a girlfriend and have a hard time speaking to the opposite sex face to face so they let the computer screen be the division and their comfort. Thus resulting in some guys slobbering all over their keyboard at the slightest sign of estrogen in the air.

 

/agreed

It certainly is a sorry state of affairs, isn't it?

Originally posted by Majestico

/agreed

It certainly is a sorry state of affairs, isn't it?

Indeed it is. . .

I think most people know that females or female characters get a better treatment, not really a big secret. When a REAL female asks for help on Vent, people usually will really jump at the chance to help. I've seen people stop doing stuff they had planned to help real females do stuff that when a real male asked, they politely informed them they were gonna be busy later.

They also tend to help females LONGER or give more of their time when doing it. If they help a male, its usually after a bit they "gotta' go". With real females they stay a lot longer than they usually say they had to go or be somewhere. And god forbid the female is the self-demeaning type ("Oh my stars, I just dunno what I'd do without your help! Im such a klutzo sometimes!") and follow that up with some cutesy emotes. Makes me laugh in Vent when I hear females do that. I would think females who game seriously would take offense to THOSE type of females more than the guys that rush to their aid.

With "fake" female characters you get more help from strangers usually, mostly those teen boys you were talking about. Usually the same guy that helps real females in his guild probably won't go out of his way to help a female character he sees wondering around. Probably cause he can't be sure its a REAL female. I think its something about having a real female voice in their ears that makes it easier to spend longer periods of time with cause men can relax more and not have to be macho. The people who usually help the random female toon will do so but then it will usually get to.. "so, how old r u?" "where do u live?" "r u a real girl?" I've rolled female toons (guy here) in games and noticed you do generally get more mileage. But its easy to spot fake females: Bigger boobs, "sexy" hairstyles or clothing (bikini over function looking gear), and last but not least, the name is a tipoff.

If you meet Sekksyseducer, run. Probably NOT a real female.

Having played both all the time, female characters do typically get more gifts and attention than male characters.  This can be a good and a bad thing.  Playing a male character, when being hit on you can politely decline and more than likely the response will be "rats" and they'll go away.  Not so much for a female character, often you have to be very abrupt with "no, go away" which sometimes doesn't work by itself.  It's a reflection of society as well, often running into the same kinds of issue.  Other stereotypes are female characters have more emotion, irrationality, judgementalism, excitability, sternness and self-righteous indignation.  For male characters, there's the expectation of being flexible, forgiving, confident / arrogant, considerate, calm, love to kill things, and short with their answers.  Of course stereotypes are not right to impose upon people and are certainly not absolutes, but like society the games follow the same flaws.

From my experiences, yes they do.

In Eve (female to male ratio: 5:95), a female voice on teamspeak is the best thing that can happen. Suddenly, everything goes quiet, and people swear less. Even if it's just the scout reporting things and accidently hitting the wrong button.

A psychoanalyst would probably have a lot of fun with gender roles in mmorpgs, but imo it goes a lot deeper than just the "nerd that has never seen a real girl nekkid"-cliche. As a matter of fact, most people i play with either have a wife or girlfriend currently, and still a female voice does wonderful things to teamspeak discipline.

I'm not going to judge this behaviour, but imo you're making it too easy if you just reduce the situation to the old nerd clichee.

Originally posted by popinjay

If you meet Sekksyseducer, run. Probably NOT a real female.

True, no self respecting female would have this name or dance in their skivvies on a tabletop.  If they're trying to "turn you on" then they're probably a guy.

Originally posted by popinjay

I think most people know that females or female characters get a better treatment, not really a big secret. When a REAL female asks for help on Vent, people usually will really jump at the chance to help. I've seen people stop doing stuff they had planned to help real females do stuff that when a real male asked, they politely informed them they were gonna be busy later.

They also tend to help females LONGER or give more of their time when doing it. If they help a male, its usually after a bit they "gotta' go". With real females they stay a lot longer than they usually say they had to go or be somewhere. And go