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 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.

. . .in the hopes of getting a "thank you" from a female or even deeper yet hoping the woman is two doors down and will come over to "reward" you in some other way shape or form.  Its truly pathetic, call me cold but I will not help someone out just because they are female.  If I have the time I will help out whomever asks first.

Maybe back in the days when there were so few of us playing online games, but probably not so much anymore.  Maybe some sad lads who are looking for love in all the wrong places.

Let me give my RL female perspective on this, as a long time gamer. :) 

First of all, I do agree that women probably receive more gifts, help, etc., but this, generally anymore, is only after people have talked to you and KNOW you are female, because so MANY men have used female characters to try to deceive other players and "get stuff."  Gamers are not TOTAL idiots and most of them have learned their lesson on this.  

With other WOMEN in the game, a woman tends to find a lot of comraderie and understanding.  The other RL women have also been hit on, babied, etc., and not all of us appreciate this.  There are a LOT of gaming women that do NOT rely on their femininity to "get stuff," and some even find it a bit insulting to BE treated differently.  This really depends on the woman, in my opinion.

A few years back, this whole gender treatment issue intrigued me to the point that I decided to roll a couple of male characters and not tell anyone that I was female, for a long while, just to see if there really WAS any difference.

Surprisingly the most predominant difference I noticed, wasn't even so much in the offers of help, gifts, and such....it was the difference in the amount of RESPECT I got as a fellow GAMER as opposed to how some men behaved knowing I was female on my other characters.  My male tank class character was talked down to a LOT less, expected to know what was going on, had less unsolicited offers for help and "coaching," and just overall got a lot more RESPECT.

I was also a bit shocked once I finally DID decide to reveal that I was actually female, when, of course, it required Ventrilo to "prove it" (which I did), followed by comments like...."Wow, I would have never believed you if I hadn't heard for myself, because you can really tank!"   I mean....WTF??  What is THAT supposed to mean???  As if women, by nature, shouldn't be able to play a game well?  I've been playing games since before most of these tykes were a twinkle in Mommy and Daddy's eye.  Anyway.... /sigh .....

So my ultimate conclusion (I tried this experiment again with a male ranger/hunter class with much the same results) was that the added trust and respect you get with others believing you are male in RL, is noticeable.  However.....when you're a good player.....MOST male gamers will still respect you "in the morning"  (LOL) when they find out you're female.

The guys in my guild do not cater to me, or talk down to me, or give me a lot of unsolicited advice, but.....they KNOW me after having played with me for 4 years.  I DO notice, that they still tend to fall all over themselves sometimes (usually just the younger guys), when there is a NEW RL female in the guild though.  

Sometimes you guys.....are just too predictable. ;)

EDIT:  I have only tried this "experiment" in WoW.  All of my characters in the other games I play are female.  So I cannot give any "data" from those games. =D

Back in the day when I first started playing MMO's one day I made a female character, not sure why, and soon as I logged in people were giving me free stuff.  i didn't ask or anything, just trade windows poped up and I got free bags and equipment.  So I played female characters for a while.<shrug> Female avavtars  usually look better anyway.

Now I play 50/50 male/female although I don't seem to get free stuff anymore.

P.S.  Why do people get hung up if a guy plays a female character?  No one role plays anymore anyway.  No one gets uptight playing Lara Croft in Tomb raider, hell that is what sold that game.  No one gets upset when I play an orc and they find out I am not an orc in RL....

Originally posted by galad2003

Back in the day when I first started playing MMO's one day I made a female character, not sure why, and soon as I logged in people were giving me free stuff.  i didn't ask or anything, just trade windows poped up and I got free bags and equipment.  So I played female characters for a while.<shrug> Female avavtars  usually look better anyway.

Now I play 50/50 male/female although I don't seem to get free stuff anymore.

P.S.  Why do people get hung up if a guy plays a female character?  No one role plays anymore anyway.  No one gets uptight playing Lara Croft in Tomb raider, hell that is what sold that game.  No one gets upset when I play an orc and they find out I am not an orc in RL....

er...maybe because orcs do not actually exist in real life?  The real question is 'why would a guy choose to go a female avatar, merely because they like the look of a pixelated character?'  Afterall, you must know that there will be players, especially male ones, who wil rightly, or wrongly, may interpret you to be female.  So with that being the case, why would you, knowing this, still choose to go a female character?   I don't give any credence to the arguement that you went a female character, 'because it looks better'. 

Originally posted by galad2003

Back in the day when I first started playing MMO's one day I made a female character, not sure why, and soon as I logged in people were giving me free stuff.  i didn't ask or anything, just trade windows poped up and I got free bags and equipment.  So I played female characters for a while.<shrug> Female avavtars  usually look better anyway.

Now I play 50/50 male/female although I don't seem to get free stuff anymore.

P.S.  Why do people get hung up if a guy plays a female character?  No one role plays anymore anyway.  No one gets uptight playing Lara Croft in Tomb raider, hell that is what sold that game.  No one gets upset when I play an orc and they find out I am not an orc in RL....

Do you think you are fooling anyone? We know you are an orc in RL.

There are always morons but I really don't think most people care that much. I have only 2 requiremnts for a tank:

1. being able to tank good.

2. At least talking english (or another language I actually understands) enough so I can understand hem/her .

I don't really care where people come from, what sex they are, what religion or so on, I respect competence in every case. And since the chanse of meeting anyone IRL is low anyways why would I care about anymore aspects of anyone than what they are in the game anyways?

Over the years I only met one female avatar trying to get presents ever (she offered cybersex in Guildwars, 10 bucks on that it was a guy IRL), only a few people are that pathetic.

It is just a game anyways. Off course I try to get the best players for a group but I let people actions for themselves and so does at least most players I know. Totreat someone different just because their avatars are different sex than mine seems... incredible stupid and narrow minded.

Off course very young players might see it different. On the other hand I am more worried about peoples age than sex in a game, young players tend to drop off because their parents force them to not play so much, very annoying when youre grouping. So if I would know I prefer players at least 16 years old, but that is really my only IRL preference of players.

In Warhammer Witch Elves can only be female so it is common to hear them use language that is far from   'Lady Like', whatever that means. 

Originally posted by Majestico

er...maybe because orcs do not actually exist in real life?  The real question is 'why would a guy choose to go a female avatar, merely because they like the look of a pixelated character?'  Afterall, you must know that there will be players, especially male ones, who wil rightly, or wrongly, may interpret you to be female.  So with that being the case, why would you, knowing this, still choose to go a female character?   I don't give any credence to the arguement that you went a female character, 'because it looks better'. 

It is just a game, why should he care what anyone else thinks? It is one thing if they ask if hes really are and lie about it or have cybersex with them but otherwise it is just a game.

Most people don't play games to pick up people anyways, we go to pubs or something for that...

And Im pretty sure orcs exist, a few of the people I work with looks and acts like orcs...

I play MMORPGs like this. If you are in the game, the default is you are male, regardless of what toon you are playing. If I find you for a fact taht you are female, like hear your voice in voice chat, then the default is you are either A. Married, or B. 300 pounds. If I'm looking for a date, it's not going to be in an MMORPG.

When I play a character, generally like to play a male character because I want to interact with other players in the game as a male.

However, like most males I do enjoy playing a female toon in games if it's nice to look at. The example already given is playing Lara Croft in Tomb Raider. I'd rather look at Lara's ass than Leroy's ass.

Occaisionally I am tempted to roll up a female toon in an MMORPG, like City of Heroes. They look nice.

Originally posted by Ihmotepp

I play MMORPGs like this. If you are in the game, the default is you are male, regardless of what toon you are playing.

Apparently you haven't read the latest studies on how MANY women now play online games, have you?

If I find you for a fact taht you are female, like hear your voice in voice chat, then the default is you are either A. Married, or B. 300 pounds. 

Well, chances are...you're wrong a LOT of the time then.  But THIS perfect example of male prejudicial bullshit, is why a lot of women won't even TELL you they are women.  If you HAPPEN to be in the same guild with them, is the only way you'll know, a good deal of the time.  

If I'm looking for a date, it's not going to be in an MMORPG.

On THAT much, I will certainly agree with you, because we all know that most men that play MMOs are fat, ugly, middle-aged beer-bellied slobs that live at home with Mommy and Daddy and don't have a job, that have never touched a real woman in their lives.  /rolls eyes 

STEREOTYPES are IGNORANT. 

(Ihmotepp, you would be seriously SHOCKED if you knew some of my son's female friends that play MMOs, single, in their 20s, and quite lovely, beautiful women, and you would definitely reconsider your attitudes.)  But I agree that looking for dates online....is idiotic at best....just not for the same stereotypical prejudicial reasons that YOU think so.

When I play a character, generally like to play a male character because I want to interact with other players in the game as a male.

However, like most males I do enjoy playing a female toon in games if it's nice to look at. The example already given is playing Lara Croft in Tomb Raider. I'd rather look at Lara's ass than Leroy's ass.

Occaisionally I am tempted to roll up a female toon in an MMORPG, like City of Heroes. They look nice.

Originally posted by girlgeek

Originally posted by Ihmotepp

I play MMORPGs like this. If you are in the game, the default is you are male, regardless of what toon you are playing. If I find you for a fact taht you are female, like hear your voice in voice chat, then the default is you are either A. Married, or B. 300 pounds.  Well, chances are...you're wrong a LOT of the time then.  But THIS perfect example of male prejudicial bullshit, is why a lot of women won't even TELL you they are women.  If I'm looking for a date, it's not going to be in an MMORPG. On THAT much, I will certainly agree with you, because we all know that most men that play MMOs are fat, ugly, middle-aged beer-bellied slobs that live at home with Mommy and Daddy and don't have a job, that have never touched a real woman in their lives.  /rolls eyes  STEREOTYPES are IGNORANT.  (Ihmotepp, you would be seriously SHOCKED if you knew some of my son's female friends that play MMOs, single, in their 20s, and quite lovely, beautiful women, and you would definitely reconsider your attitudes.)  But I agree that looking for dates online....is idiotic at best....just not for the same stereotypical prejudicial reasons that YOU think so.

 

 

It was not my intention to stereotype you, or any other girl gamer. I would not be surprised to find out that beautiful smart girls play computer games.

I'm just saying that it's immaterial to me if you're a hot girl, or married, or fat. I don't care, since I'm never going to see you or meet you. I just want you to be civil, engage in pleasant conversation, and play the game well. Your looks, gender, sexual orientation, etc., are none of my concern, and I have no way to verify anything you claim, so I"m not going to worry about it.

Not saying you're fat or unattractive or married, I have no way to verify that eitehr, just telling you how I approach the game.

I am old, ugly, with a beer belly, and I've never touched a woman, so there. All stereotypes aren't wrong.

Also, I'm not saying looking for dates online is wrong. But you do that on Match.com, not WoW, IMO.

I have also had a couple of female alts, and i get loads of more help etc etc than when im playing a male character, but i dont feel comfortable playing female characters so most of my characters are male. And i also know  a couple of womans that play male characters for similar reasons as the OP said.

Originally posted by Ihmotepp

Originally posted by girlgeek

Originally posted by Ihmotepp

I play MMORPGs like this. If you are in the game, the default is you are male, regardless of what toon you are playing. If I find you for a fact taht you are female, like hear your voice in voice chat, then the default is you are either A. Married, or B. 300 pounds.  Well, chances are...you're wrong a LOT of the time then.  But THIS perfect example of male prejudicial bullshit, is why a lot of women won't even TELL you they are women.  If I'm looking for a date, it's not going to be in an MMORPG. On THAT much, I will certainly agree with you, because we all know that most men that play MMOs are fat, ugly, middle-aged beer-bellied slobs that live at home with Mommy and Daddy and don't have a job, that have never touched a real woman in their lives.  /rolls eyes  STEREOTYPES are IGNORANT.  (Ihmotepp, you would be seriously SHOCKED if you knew some of my son's female friends that play MMOs, single, in their 20s, and quite lovely, beautiful women, and you would definitely reconsider your attitudes.)  But I agree that looking for dates online....is idiotic at best....just not for the same stereotypical prejudicial reasons that YOU think so.

 

 

 

It was not my intention to stereotype you, or any other girl gamer. I would not be surprised to find out that beautiful smart girls play computer games.

I'm just saying that it's immaterial to me if you're a hot girl, or married, or fat. I don't care, since I'm never going to see you or meet you. I just want you to be civil, engage in pleasant conversation, and play the game well. Your looks, gender, sexual orientation, etc., are none of my concern, and I have no way to verify anything you claim, so I"m not going to worry about it.

Not saying you're fat or unattractive or married, I have no way to verify that eitehr, just telling you how I approach the game.

Okay, now THAT makes MUCH more sense to me, and I completely understand that.  Your attitude would also lead me to believe that you're a bit more mature than the average teenage boy that is playing (in MY experience only), because you have some logical reasoning expressed there...lol. ;)

Sorry for sounding so angry and harsh.  You sort of get used to be considered second class as a gamer when you're female and I think that makes some of us a bit defensive at times.  I'm hoping that time will cause that to fade somewhat.

Originally posted by girlgeek

Originally posted by Ihmotepp

Originally posted by girlgeek

Originally posted by Ihmotepp

I play MMORPGs like this. If you are in the game, the default is you are male, regardless of what toon you are playing. If I find you for a fact taht you are female, like hear your voice in voice chat, then the default is you are either A. Married, or B. 300 pounds.  Well, chances are...you're wrong a LOT of the time then.  But THIS perfect example of male prejudicial bullshit, is why a lot of women won't even TELL you they are women.  If I'm looking for a date, it's not going to be in an MMORPG. On THAT much, I will certainly agree with you, because we all know that most men that play MMOs are fat, ugly, middle-aged beer-bellied slobs that live at home with Mommy and Daddy and don't have a job, that have never touched a real woman in their lives.  /rolls eyes  STEREOTYPES are IGNORANT.  (Ihmotepp, you would be seriously SHOCKED if you knew some of my son's female friends that play MMOs, single, in their 20s, and quite lovely, beautiful women, and you would definitely reconsider your attitudes.)  But I agree that looking for dates online....is idiotic at best....just not for the same stereotypical prejudicial reasons that YOU think so.

 

 

 

It was not my intention to stereotype you, or any other girl gamer. I would not be surprised to find out that beautiful smart girls play computer games.

I'm just saying that it's immaterial to me if you're a hot girl, or married, or fat. I don't care, since I'm never going to see you or meet you. I just want you to be civil, engage in pleasant conversation, and play the game well. Your looks, gender, sexual orientation, etc., are none of my concern, and I have no way to verify anything you claim, so I"m not going to worry about it.

Not saying you're fat or unattractive or married, I have no way to verify that eitehr, just telling you how I approach the game.

 

Okay, now THAT makes MUCH more sense to me, and I completely understand that.  Your attitude would also lead me to believe that you're a bit more mature than the average teenage boy that is playing (in MY experience only), because you have some logical reasoning expressed there...lol. ;)

Sorry for sounding so angry and harsh.  You sort of get used to be considered second class as a gamer when you're female.  I'm hoping that time will cause that to fade somewhat.

Cool. What's your a/s/l? Are you hawt? What are you wearing now?

Originally posted by Ihmotepp

Originally posted by girlgeek

Originally posted by Ihmotepp

 

 

 

It was not my intention to stereotype you, or any other girl gamer. I would not be surprised to find out that beautiful smart girls play computer games.

I'm just saying that it's immaterial to me if you're a hot girl, or married, or fat. I don't care, since I'm never going to see you or meet you. I just want you to be civil, engage in pleasant conversation, and play the game well. Your looks, gender, sexual orientation, etc., are none of my concern, and I have no way to verify anything you claim, so I"m not going to worry about it.

Not saying you're fat or unattractive or married, I have no way to verify that eitehr, just telling you how I approach the game.

 

Okay, now THAT makes MUCH more sense to me, and I completely understand that.  Your attitude would also lead me to believe that you're a bit more mature than the average teenage boy that is playing (in MY experience only), because you have some logical reasoning expressed there...lol. ;)

Sorry for sounding so angry and harsh.  You sort of get used to be considered second class as a gamer when you're female.  I'm hoping that time will cause that to fade somewhat.

 

Cool. What's your a/s/l?

ROFLMAO!!!  THAT...that was classic! =D

Oh and F.Y.I.  (showing that sometimes assumptions and generalization  ARE correct)  I'm 45, female, live in the central U.S.A. and I'm bisexual and in a long term commited relationship.   I'm 5'10" and a size 16 (which puts me in the "curvy" category, but not "fat"...YET....give me another 10 years).  LOL      SO....you can IMAGINE why I don't tell many people that in game.  Single straight women get enough harrassment....I don't have the energy for what I would have to deal with if I announced THAT all over the place.  LMAO  (Fortunately, no one on these boards knows what servers I play on, or my character's names in any of my games. =D)

Originally posted by Majestico

 

er...maybe because orcs do not actually exist in real life?  The real question is 'why would a guy choose to go a female avatar, merely because they like the look of a pixelated character?'  Afterall, you must know that there will be players, especially male ones, who wil rightly, or wrongly, may interpret you to be female.  So with that being the case, why would you, knowing this, still choose to go a female character?   I don't give any credence to the arguement that you went a female character, 'because it looks better'. 

So seriously...what does it matter if a male plays female or vise versa? If some guy wants to go all gaga over a female char I make, well I am sorry...but I am married...=P Jeez, I don't think an MMO is really the place to be pickin up women anyway. I remember the good ol days, before the net was so popular...ya know ya actually had to leave the house to socialize n meet people...crazy eh?

As to the OP, I think female chars do get treated better. N I think that is cause MMOs are normally filled with hormone active kids that think they can get cybered with a really hot female. Here's a tip for ya kids...if they are all into exciting you n being your chick for the day and overly n annoyingly cutesy...prolly not a female in RL!