What Gender Do You Play In Game?

It doesn't help that the male avatar mesh in SL sucks dirty swamp water through a used oil filter.

Quite a few male avatars use the female avatar mesh with the breast size at zero and muscle/fat turned up to avoid things like the axe-handle shoulderblades and the floating beltline.

They may have been afraid of why you were asking - i.e. often when someone digs for 'behind the av' info in SL, they are preparing to taunt or grief someone. I've seen it happen.

That's my personal (witnessed) experience and view. I am not saying this is *empirically why*, before anyone objects to my statement.

May I ask why you wish to know this? What is your personal thought or curiosity behind the thesis?

I am Female RL and SL I don't mind saying that much. But I have also been a gender-neutral butterfly and even, thanks to Tooter Claxton, giant cockroach in Second Life. I've worn a male av briefly in order to make some male clothes to give out as freebies to 'newbies' - no way to fit them otherwise.

I wouldn't want to play a male avatar, despite the sometime advantages (i.e. in certain sims, roleplay sims, they can go more places) because I wouldn't know what to do with one. I highly doubt it is a reflection of self esteem or "achievement" though, since you can be a giant pile of goo avatar in Second Life and still "achieve."

Isn't achievement in Second Life based upon well, achievement?

Hi Clarissa,

Thanks for your wonderfully structured questions and comments, very insightful.

It's a personal curiosity of mine that is the drive behind this thesis, I have often gender-bended in various games, as well as the world that is Second Life, and I wonder what spurs myself on to do it.

I am studying World of Warcraft as well as Second Life, so as you can see, there maybe more of an achievement motivation to gender-bend in WoW then in Second Life, but who knows?! This is what my thesis is all about. WoW and SL are two very different virtual worlds.

There's more to my study then just this simple questionnaire, as basing my thesis around the questionnaire alone would lead to some pretty poor data!

But I'm learning a huge amount from it, and I love SL dearly, so for me, researching what I love, furthers my own understanding of my behaviours and others' behaviour, and increases my personal enjoyment of the world.

Does that make sense??

This is interesting, I didn't realise that people did this.

I suppose I'm looking for people to answer if they knowingly choose to be and act as a different gender in world, then they are in RL, as opposed to choosing a different gender, but disguise that gender as their RL gender because of visual reasons.

Know what I mean?

Of course. My mistake. You had said this earlier in the thread. Apologies.

I have never played WoW.



With your commitment and insights, and interest, this has the potential to be a very interesting thesis. Best luck with it.



Yes perfectly and well said too.

That's so sad!!

As I have mentioned I am also investigating WoW too, and believe me, the reactions I have received from some WoW forums have been quite abusive.

I imagine people may go on the offensive if they believe they are being attacked themselves, a lot of people have mis-interpreted me when I have asked to chat to people about this topic. I think one thing I have learned majorly throughout this project is to be clearer about what I'm looking for, and what I want!

I'm me, and i don't play it as a game (in terms of definition) here in SL.
SL to me, is a communication platform, with extra elements added in contrast to let's say: MSN, Skype, etc.
With those elements, you get new communicative possibilities.
E.g. educational, stuff to talk about (instead of the standard chitchat), doing things together (dance clubs, malls, whatnot) during conversation, realizing things (builds etc), triggers creativity and thought. It also lowers the obstical to interact with other people. "Anonymous" conversation is easier, then in RL (where you cannot hide your real self that easy)
Especially for the the communicative shy or fysically/mentally handicapped people this is helping them alot. (as i read, seen, experienced about it)
they get the important social interactivity, and cultural exchanges.

So, the only difference between the person infront of the computer and the virtual representation of me inworld, is visual appearances. nothing more.

wonderfully said Say Moo, and I totally and wholeheartedly agree with you on this: "Especially for the the communicative shy or fysically/mentally handicapped"

SL is just wonderful in so many different ways!

Argent Stonecutter has about 300 distinct "avatars", of so many species that I have to organize them taxonomically, and many of which don't have a defined or identifiable gender.

Know what I mean?

lol, yep!

I got this data from various surveys exactly like the one the OP is trying to set up. I don't remember any links, just the numbers, they are usually the same. But the even more compelling source is my friends list.

lol, thanks for the responses guys, closely reaching my target, still needing those people who don't gender bend, so if you dont, please feel free to take part!

I am just me female in and out of SL, hell I cant understand men at the best of times so why would i want to be one?

27.3 % of all people who answer surveys give untruthful responses........

You may decide to choose a male avatar in order to understand men further!

There are many different reasons!

I'm a woman in and out of SL.

Edited to add...One of the reasons I love SL is that I feel I can do anything anyone(males included) do... such as build, lift houses etc.. I work in a male dominated field and recognize in a lot of situations I just cannot do the same job as my male counterpart because of things such as physical strength. In SL..all avies are equal in that way so it is a nice change.
But that being said...I would not change these physics in RL. I love being a woman and I love men being men

Thanks for everyones replies, you have been majorly helpful!

As most of you know, I am researching SL and WoW, and I've had masses of responses from WoW but not as much from SL, so if anyone is able to send this on to people, I particularly need Female responses!

Thanks to everyone who has responded, I am eternally greatful!

Any trans - TOTALLY welcome too!! xx

Hello Eily and sorry for the delay in my seeing this survey. Like some commented earlier, this isn't the first and won't be the last and we all have the simple option to ignore.

Eily, I wonder if you'd looked at SL Universe? I remember back in Aug/Sep there was a poll on sheer numbers and there was a remarkably high percentage of guys who played both genders. If this 'both' option is missing from your survey it is an essential design flaw of Surveymonkey.

I have played both genders for two years now and have seen a change in attitudes throughout that time, thankfully becoming more and more tollerant. I have recently 'outed' two of my girls, the third being their mother is never going to get to first base with *anyone* ya hear? .. so ferget it!!

Since I did this I have met more and more guys who run girl avatars as well. We chat at great length sometimes. If you'd like to meet in-world I am online a lot more just now due to medical reasons. Give me an IM if you wish. Either way, I wish you luck and would be interested to hear your results.

I play a male av, female av, and asexual/undefinable av.