The (unlocated) in-game gender performativity in contemporary China: Exploring gender swapping practices in the online game sphere

ABSTRACT

Gender swapping—selecting a different gender for an avatar in a game than the one assigned to the player in real life—is common, especially in massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs). Such swapping enables a livable transsexual experience. This experience is challenging and dangerous in the real world, which is dominated by gender dimorphism and heteronormative values. Building upon Terry Lovell’s (2003) critique of Judith Butler’s (1990, 2004) concepts of gender performance and performativity, this article identifies different gender swapping practices and their cultural and political implications in contemporary China. Through digital ethnography and in-depth interviews with 31 interviewees, we identified two distinct types of in-game gender swapping: in-game performance and in-game performance of performativity. Regarding in-game performance, heterosexual gamers choose an opposite gender to achieve better outcomes, to avoid sexual harassment, and to fulfill heterosexual- and homosexual-gazing desires. Lesbians’ and gay men’s in-game performance of performativity highlights the newly emerging practice of queer dating and socializing in MMORPGs, displaying a productive process of nonconforming identity creation. However, due to the extensive online censorship and an increasingly hostile environment towards queer culture, the performativity of in-game gender-swapping—which has the potential to disrupt the social order both within and outside the gaming sphere—cannot be identified.

KEYWORDS:

• gender performance
• gender performativity
• MMORPG
• gender swapping
• China

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China [grant number 20YJC86013].

Notes on contributors

Yalan Huang

Yalan Huang is an associate professor in the School of Journalism and Communication at Jinan University, Guangzhou, China. Her research interests centre on feminist media studies and digital journalism. Her recent publications include peer-review journal articles on Asian Journal of Women’s Studies, Asian Journal of Communication.

Tingting Liu

Tingting Liu is an associate professor in the School of Journalism and Communication at Jinan University, Guangzhou, China. Her research interests center on new media, gender, sexuality, and their intersections. Recent publications include peer-review journal articles on China Information, Continuum: Journal of Media & Cultural Studies, Television & New Media and Feminist Media Studies.

Yinkun Chen

Yinkun Chen now works at State Administration of Taxation- Guangzhou Haizhu District Taxation Bureau. She graduated from School of Journalism and Communication at Jinan University and her research interests center on game, gender, and novels.