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Gender Inequality In Everquest

Posted by Hemos on from the but-what-about-the-children dept.

daimou writes "According to a study done at California State University, women avatars sell for 10% less than men. Also look how rich Everquest would be if it were a real country. The New Scientist is carrying the full report." Update: 06/26 14:15 GMT by S : This New Scientist article adds commentary/summary on the original paper the author, Edward Castronova, sent us info about a couple of days ago.

8 of 48 comments (clear)

  1. In other news by d99-sbr · · Score: 5, Funny

    According to a study done at California State University, Slashdot editors post the same story over 100% more times than other editors.

  2. Huh? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Overall, male avatars sold for an average of $346, while the generally lower skilled female ones went for $281. The discrepancy notably mirrors differences in wages earned by men and women in the real-world, says Castronova.

    Well, if they are generally lower skilled, doesn't that justify the lesser price?

    English is not my native language, maybe I misunderstood that?

  3. Oh my god... by sabNetwork · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Do these guys have brains larger than dogs? Obviously there is less of a demand for female avatars because there are more male users. Thus, there are fewer bids, and the avatar sells for less.

    "Although the vast majority of EverQuest players are male, around 20 per cent of players choose a female avatar to represent them online."

    Translation: There is a 60% lower demand for female avatars than male avatars. Hmm.....

    1. Re:Oh my god... by Captain_Stupendous · · Score: 2, Insightful

      LOL, With the lower demand taken into account, the female Avatars are actually selling for MORE than they should...

      --


      I am alone, yet I also surf the universal backwash of undifferentiated Being, which is LOVE.
    2. Re:Oh my god... by Universal+Nerd · · Score: 4, Informative

      A note, right up front: I'm a guy.

      Well, I for one play as a female avatar.

      I started using girls after a Geeks in Space program with CmdrTaco, Hemos and CowboyNeal where Taco was bragging about how his character.

      He used to play a sorceress in Diablo II and some guys would walk up to him and give him stuff. I got to thinking, why not do the same.

      I've played as girls in all the online RPG's I've been in and the guys have been taking it easy on me but they really do like to hit on me - and I play along for the most part.

      On networked games in lanhouses I see guys walking around looking for the dumb b*tch that fragged their asses - all the while I'm sitting next to them.

      --
      Ash nazg durbatuluk, ash nazg gimbatul Ash nazg thrakatuluk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul
  4. Re:Computer Games Researcher? by DavidLeblond · · Score: 2, Funny
    What kind of job is this?


    I believe that would be "my dream job."
  5. 77th by I_am_God_Here · · Score: 3, Funny

    "EverQuest would then be the 77th wealthiest in the world, just behind Russia."

    I am dissapointed in the EQ players, I hope they work harder next year and surpass russia.

    --

    Capitalism: unequal distribution of wealth
    Socialism: equal distribution of poverty
  6. Re:Do the math... by zillahX · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I play female characters in EQ. People are more apt to pay adequately for things, they're generally nicer to you, easier to get into groups.. so what if I'm not really female? I'm also not really a giant lizard that walks on it's hind legs and does kung fu.