Forums » RP Discussion » Feelings Towards People RPing the opposite gender?

I've seen people in various roleplays (DnD, WoW, Play-By-Post) bash people who play as the opposite gender. Particularly, men playing as women. Many people seem to hate it when guys roleplay as girls, which I think it absolutely stupid. Unless someone is trying to come off as incredibly sexual, or roleplays terribly, I don't see why a guy can't play as a girl or a girl can't play as a guy. Gender shouldn't matter in a roleplay, as it's a fictional character in a fictional universe.

What're your guys' input on the subject?

I'm actually one of those people who play the opposite gender. However, that's because I feel more comfortable playing as both male and female identities because of my own gender identity. If someone did bash me for my preferences, that's their issue and I shouldn't be roleplaying with them anyway.

Honestly, I'm impressed when guys want to play as girls, because it either shows they're comfortable in their own skin to not care what gender they play, or want to gain an understanding of the opposite sex. Same with females playing as males. I don't see what the big deal is, to be fair with you. Roleplaying is kind of like acting; theater actors and even big screen actors do the same thing from time to time. I think people tend to forget about that every so often.

You'll find that a huge majority of users on RPR will share your opinion on this subject. We're a very friendly and diverse community, so if you're concerned that you might be bashed for such a thing, I assure you nobody will bat an eyelid! LightSide also raises a good point in that playing characters that are different from yourself is a great way to develop as a writer.

its cool that some people would rp as the opposite gender! its kinda a new experience to see a girl as a guy and vice versa

Half the time my characters have no gender at all

I've had plenty of male characters and plenty of female character and plenty of something else characters.

Thing is I just don't care.

I have both males and females! It's just like writing a book. Do authors only include characters the same gender as them? Of course not. It may be easier at times to write characters who are like yourself, but with enough research and skill, anyone can write anyone.

As far as the sexual stuff goes...same thing. I may be a straight, cisgender female, but I managed to write smut with a straight, cisgender male character. LightSide knows what I'm talking about, she read it. Research is my friend for things like this.

People actually think "if you're a girl, you can only rp girls and vice versa"? Wow. That's a sign of RP/writing skills that are lacking, and a closed mind.

I agree with Dragoncat above -- It's literally the same as writing a book, except with someone else. As RPing is a form of storytelling, you need to explore other genders, sexualities, and personalities because the world is diverse, and everyone's different. Sticking to one gender or one personality can get boring, though it's fine to prefer playing as one gender more than another. Bottom line is just do whatever you want.

Food for thought on the book analogy: I heard Tamora Pierce has trouble writing males, so her male characters turn out not as developed/good as her females. How true is this? I haven't read her books. And if I did, not enough, or I don't remember. I recall a book about a girl who could telepathize with wolves that was by her, but I don't think I finished it.

So I guess, even if someone does tend to stick to what they know, they can still be a successful enough author...

I'm a huge Tamora Pierce fan and I think she writes her men very, very well. Though I've read mostly her Tortall books as opposed to Circle of Magic and anything else.

When you write a book, you have to be able to write opposite genders and opposite personalities all the time.

I don't see a problem with this, at all

I agree with much of the stuff people are saying here. However, RPing face to face (or voice to voice.) such as in D&D and RPing on a forum are two entirely different experiences. I can definitely see how it could be massively awkward to play a Female Character in D&D while the player them self is in fact male. (especially if certain events in the story line come up.)

However, on a forum, RPing is more like making a collaborative story, with the players themselves pushing much of the plot forward. As well as in this type of RPing, one must understand both the concepts of Keeping IC and OOC separate, and that the characters do not directly translate to the person. (basically, they are metaphorically their own thing, and usually, for the most part not related to their creator. incredibly vile and evil characters can be played by people who have hearts of gold, vice versa and etc.)

Once they understand that, it enables them to basically have creative freedom to make any kind of character they want. Are you a male and want a Damsel in Distress character for a plot line? Well, you can! It's not awkward anymore when you treat it like a story! Are you a woman who wants to have a super burly and brutish male hero? Go ahead, it's your character! Even characters you make on whims can be male or female even though their creator is one or the other. It is creative freedom after all. A thing everyone can enjoy.

An example of this is my character Myra. I literally made her because I needed a low fantasy(ish.) character one day, I also said screw it and made her a woman because my roster is lacking in them. (as well as a bigger fact for making her is nearly all my characters are tuned towards high fantasy.)

(by the way, fun fact. you can often tell what a person's gender is (if they have it hidden.) by what majority of genders their characters are composed of. a person with a lot of female characters will often be a female, and so on and so forth.)

I too am one of those people that tend to play an opposite gender. For years, I've always felt that since I'm a female,It was always too close to home to play a female. As a result, a lot of my female characters came out stagnant, or flat. One--maybe two?--dimensional. But my MALE characters? Oho, I can keep stories going with them for years. (And I have! I still have an ongoing RP that's boosted itself up to 9 years now.) Maybe I don't spend enough time developing them, but I also have a problem where I'll make a Real True Big Baddie, and I never feel like I can play them properly but everybody else around me thinks otherwise, so maybe this also falls into the 'stepping out of your comfort zone' thing.

I play as both female & male characters, and all I have to say is that, If you can rp as the opposite sex, and play it well, then kudos to you! There will be no hate coming from me!

A developed character is a developed character regardless of gender, race, abilities, and short-comings. If you wish to roleplay as a female or male or something-else character, then do so! I personally have anonymous male characters for more adult scenes, but I started out not knowing how to make an attractive, sexual scene while playing one. Thankfully, the internet is a source of learning potential and if one pays attention, emulation isn't too far away.

I was surprised to answer a question sent by a friend one day. They asked if I would be comfortable roleplaying as a male character, seeing as how all of my public characters are female. The only difference in playing a male or female character is physical form. A character's wants, dreams, attitude, disposition, personality, and other defining traits can be placed in a female, male, or something-else body and that character will react in the same fashion.

Why would others want to bash on roleplayers for playing opposite genders? It's likely because they want an OOC romance between players. They become disappointed that an attractive character is played by a player whose gender they are not attracted to. This happens often in Furcadia, for better or for worse. This is less about the characters, and more about the players themselves.

Pretty much what everyone else has said; I'm fine with it. It's a writing exercise to RP in this format and while most of my characters are female, I do have a few males in the roster too. For me, when I form the idea for a character, their gender comes along on its own. Make or female, doesn't matter. Likewise, I don't care if it's a male playing a female or vice versa. So long as it's a fun character to RP opposite of, and everyone is having fun, then that's what counts.

I strictly rp female characters as I just have zero interest in rping male ones. However I applaud those who can play characters of both genders even if I don't. I also don't care if I'm rping with a guy playing a girl or a girl playing a guy, it's all good to me.

Oh...I find this annoying!

I'm a female but I'm more comfortable playing as male characters. I've had issues with people getting upset over this and starting big issues over it and get royally upset when I tried to explain only to never talk to me again.

In my opinion it's whoever or whatever you want to be, Rp is supposed to be a fun creative release and when you get people downing your spirits over playing as the opposite gender it becomes more of a task that you dread!

Forgive me for getting so worked up over this but I feel really strongly about this and it really works my nerves

My main character (of 15 years no less) is a male. He is incredibly developed, and really a large part of me. Where rping NSFW themes comes in I generally fade to black and do a "let's say we did" kind of situation for it - but I do that with my female characters as well because I am generally uncomfortable with those sorts of rps.

I don't personally care what's between your legs. If you can write, and write well, then more power to ya.

I can see why you only feel comfortable rping female characters, I used to be the same way as you years ago (I was also female at this point in my life.) All my characters were female, and I had like one or two male characters (not all of them were fully developed either...) but lately I have made wayyyy more male characters, and honestly got super comfortable rping as a man, and then I realized I wanted to be a man myself... So I am definitely comfortable rping both genders now, but everyone feels differently and I understand.

I Never play the opposite gender because I Just don't feel like it, but i'm not against it if someone wish to.

Cheer!