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One of the fundamental differences between SL and MMORPGs like WoW and LOTRO is the fluidity of gender. There is a mechanical difference that has effects that change the social economic implications of gender in these virtual worlds. This single mechanical difference emphasizes that the knowledge of the virtual world is imperative to accurate research of that world.
The Mechanics of Gender
Before the effects of the mechanics have on a virtual space can be described, they must be fully described and then compared to other mechanics. When I create an avatar in SL or WoW, I select a gender for my avatar. Currently, most virtual worlds limit this to the male/female binary. In the past, at least one MUD (I can’t find a reference for this) had several genders to choose from. This gender choice in all the MMOs I looked at was static except for Second Life. In Wow if you choose a female elf, youa re a female elf for good. In Second Life, gender is a radio button in your Appearance window. One click of the mouse and you move from male to female or vice versa. There may be other social worlds like Entropia and There.com that have the ability to switch. Even if there are other worlds that allow gender switching, there still remains a dichotomy between static gender worlds and fluid gender worlds. Also, in all of these virtual worlds there is no game or world mechanic that sees gender as a limiting factor. A female hunter in LOTRO is as strong and fast as a male one. In Second Life, a male avatar builds exactly the same way a female avatar builds. Also in Second Life, male and female is defined by the system by some physical characteristics (chest size, hips, height) but it all can be changed. You can look like a man but be gendered as a female. Gender does not even appear on someone’s profile. In most MMO’s the bodies of the avatars appear different (though my female engineer in Hellgate has so much armor on it is difficult to tell her gender). So, I have isolated a difference in gender mechanics between worlds but what does it actually effect?
Bodies For Sale
In Castronova’s paper, “The Price of Bodies: A Hedonic Pricing Model of Avatar Attributes in a Synthetic World” (2004) he talks about how there is a thriving economy of character on sites like ebay and playerauctions.com for both male and female avatars. This does not exist for Second Life. Usually in a MMORPG, like WoW, reputation is built on level that is shown by abilities and armor. In Second Life, a newbie can have the “look” of a more seasoned resident in a few minutes. Castranova found gender labels less important to the economic value of an avatar and I would extend that to the avatars in SL. The value of an avatar in SL is hard to assess since there is no regular trade in them but objects that avatar use or wear do have an economic trade. For instance, in Second life you can buy an avatar outfit that makes you look like a dinosaur. This trade tends not to be in human type avatars. Also in SL, women’s clothing, skins, and hair are more prevalent and generally more expensive than men’s. In a world like WoW or LOTRO there is no gender-cost difference in armor or weaponry.
Gender Behind The Gender
A practice that has also been documented is the switching of genders between player (the person using the computer) and avatar (the in-world instance of that person’s identity) . In any of these virtual worlds, assuming the player gender based on gender selection in world is faulty at best. Generally, most men play men and most women play women but it cannot be depended on. In a fluid gender space like SL even less so since the gender of an avatar can change at any moment during the experience.
So What?
Well economically, the fluidity of gender certainly changes the economic value of an avatar and changes the economy of clothing and other objects. How exactly that happens, needs further research. Also the social effects of a fluid gender system need to be studied and described. The most import thing here is awareness of the mechanics of virtual worlds is essential to understanding how they work and assessing causation.
References
Castronova, E.. “The Price of Bodies: A Hedonic Pricing Model of Avatar Attributes in a Synthetic World” in Kyklos, 2004
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