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| MARCH 06, 2008 |
The study found that males and females had different reasons for gender swapping, with
female gamers primarily seeking to avoid "unsolicited male approaches" and male
swappers finding that they are treated far better by other males.
In the words of one male participant quoted in the study, "Nerd + Boob = Loot."
Titled "Gender Swapping and Socializing in Cyberspace: An Exploratory Study," the study was
conducted by Zaheer Hussain and Mark Griffiths and surveyed 119 participants, 83 of which
were male and 32 female. The survey was conducted through various MMOG-enthusiast
forums, and the researchers noted that flaws to the study may include the relatively small
sample size and the self-reporting format.
"What makes these findings important is that in most instances, the gamer has the
opportunity to choose the gender of his or her character and to develop other aspects of the
character before beginning to play," concluded the researchers. "Choosing to gender swap
may have an effect on the gamer's style of play and interaction with other gamers and could
even have an effect on guild membership." Researchers also noted that the study supported
previous findings that "suggest the female persona has a number of positive social attributes
in a male-oriented environment."
female gamers primarily seeking to avoid "unsolicited male approaches" and male
swappers finding that they are treated far better by other males.
In the words of one male participant quoted in the study, "Nerd + Boob = Loot."
Titled "Gender Swapping and Socializing in Cyberspace: An Exploratory Study," the study was
conducted by Zaheer Hussain and Mark Griffiths and surveyed 119 participants, 83 of which
were male and 32 female. The survey was conducted through various MMOG-enthusiast
forums, and the researchers noted that flaws to the study may include the relatively small
sample size and the self-reporting format.
"What makes these findings important is that in most instances, the gamer has the
opportunity to choose the gender of his or her character and to develop other aspects of the
character before beginning to play," concluded the researchers. "Choosing to gender swap
may have an effect on the gamer's style of play and interaction with other gamers and could
even have an effect on guild membership." Researchers also noted that the study supported
previous findings that "suggest the female persona has a number of positive social attributes
in a male-oriented environment."
Noob or Boob?
Study uncovers MMORPG
gender-swapping epidemic
Study uncovers MMORPG
gender-swapping epidemic
www.gamespot.com
In a watershed discovery last year,
researchers at Nottingham Trent University in
the UK found that three-quarters of online
role-players form close relationships with
those they meet in their online worlds, with
one in 10 of those connections culminating
in real-world coitus.
Building upon that research, and perhaps
adding an extra layer of complexity, a new
study out of Nottingham Trent has found that
54 percent of all males and 68 percent of all
females "gender swap"--or create online
personas of their opposite sex.
In a watershed discovery last year,
researchers at Nottingham Trent University in
the UK found that three-quarters of online
role-players form close relationships with
those they meet in their online worlds, with
one in 10 of those connections culminating
in real-world coitus.
Building upon that research, and perhaps
adding an extra layer of complexity, a new
study out of Nottingham Trent has found that
54 percent of all males and 68 percent of all
females "gender swap"--or create online
personas of their opposite sex.
Gary Gygax 1938-2008