Subjects were also asked whether they feel there are any drawbacks to playing female characters. If subjects believe that yes, there are drawbacks, they were able to endorse more than one particular drawback.
- 55% (18 subjects) believe that YES, there are drawbacks to playing females, for three main reasons. Several respondents mentioned how poorly they have been treated by other males while playing female characters, and what an eye-opener that experience was for them. For example, L. Patrick Smallwood, aka iamsure, mentioned, "during the course of playing females, I have become AMAZED at how men act toward me. Sad, really."
| 1. Sexual propositions, harassment, and/or insults, and problems stemming from these behaviors (45% / 15 subjects). Jer writes, "the BEST is when you have these stereotypical loser guys start defending you like you were some kind of goddess or something…trying to make someone else who is hitting on you seem like a lowlife, and he will defend your honor, and all this funny stuff. All these ‘prince charmings’ are trying to do the exact same thing the ‘lowlifes…are trying to do… they are trying to GET WITH YOU." Bier Hunter: "I periodically get requests for cybersex…My response to them is an immediate attack with the most powerful weapon I have with me. From that point on, that player is on my KOS (Kill On Sight) list. I think that type of conduct is rude and totally inappropriate in a game that caters to all ages." Through roleplaying as female, JC came to the conclusion that "many men truly are obnoxious, annoying fools, whose minds are completely controlled by the desire of sex. Or at least they are the most vocal males…..In gaming as a female character, it helps a male to appreciate the strength of women, in being able to tolerate some foolish male mindsets that seem to plague half the population of the world." Anonymous speaks of the difficulties that can arise between players when one feels they have been duped as to the other’s gender: "Some people forget it’s a roleplaying game and look for real life relationship in the game and tend to invest emotion in their roleplaying interactions which are not divorced from their real life. This can lead to problems when other male players start to ‘fall’ for the character and can get either emotionally shattered or bitter when they find out their view of what is real is not the case." 2. Dislike of the "preferential" treatment given to female characters, getting treated as dumb or helpless (12% / 4 subjects). Bier Hunter argues, "you don’t have to run up and save that poor helpless damsel in distress. It’s probably me, and I’m doing fine; thank you for offering. And if it’s really my wife’s character…well…she’ll probably mop the floor with you. She’s tougher than I am. 3. Gameplay disadvantage in some games (6% / 2 subjects). IceSheild reports, "In some games you might not be able to carry or use heavy weapons if you are female." Parakeet interjects that in some genres the female characters are "quite often weaker than their male counterparts." |
- 45% (15 subjects) believe that NO, there are no drawbacks to playing females.
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