Gender Encounters in a Virtual Community

ABSTRACT

Identity formation and acceptance in a virtual community are areas that one could consider the stepping stones to understanding the myriad nuances that compose a social relationship in cyberspace. This paper explores a Multi-User Domain (MUD) called “Multiple Worlds” (MW), a “community talker” dealing with adult conversations on sexually explicit topics. It gives an account of how people strike up conversations under their new identities. It also discusses the role gender plays in identity formation and its subsequent acceptance by other members in that community. Finally, the paper presents some issues for the future study of cybercultures.

Key Words:

• Cybercultures
• MUD
• identity formation
• gender roles