Gender-Equality in the Metaverse: A World of No Discrimination?

The creation of this immersive virtual world has changed the current society through the use of different new and existing technologies. The metaverse uses immersive and virtual technology tools to create a boundless and decentralized world. Developed by Meta, the revamped version of the Facebook cooperation, the metaverse serves as the foundation for future developments and human interaction.

On the other hand, the global society has also developed on a social front. These developments are associated with issues such as sex, race, and gender with many cases of discrimination being cited on this basis. These issues are the subject of many ideological and political debates with different groups being divided in opinion. 

The recent few years have resulted in huge steps being made on these social fronts. These developments have not been limited to the physical world. Instead, they are intertwined with the metaverse as it serves as a revolutionary platform. 

This platform can be exploited to promote unity, freedom and even help limit discrimination, a problem that has plagued society for ages. What's more, the application of blockchain technology boosts the security and transparency levels of these metaverse universes.

How the Metaverse Works

To better grasp of the Metaverse’s importance in eliminating discrimination, a proper understanding of how the virtual world works are necessary. The metaverse is typically a virtual world that utilizes 3D and immersive technology to create an extensive and limitless network. The network features several uses. The metaverse can be used for interaction by users, businesses, and brands.

The metaverse is a platform that allows users to participate in virtual events in real-time. Through this process, individuals can attend meetings, events, or even play games in the virtual world. Games such as Fortnite allow users to attend real-time events such as concerts in the virtual world.

The existence of the metaverse also acts as the foundation of a digital economy. Thus, the users are able to buy and sell goods in a simplified online process. 

Businesses and brands are also able to invest in the virtual world and interact more with their customers. The metaverse acts as a new channel for business ventures. Thus, with proper exploitation, businesses and brands can expand their influence and gain profits.

How Users Participate in the Metaverse.

For a user to be able to immerse themselves in the virtual world, they need avatars. The avatar is the physical representation of a user. The metaverse offers even greater flexibility for users and their avatars. Depending on the platform, the avatar may be customized to match the user’s preferences. 

In the Metaverse, these avatars will be used in a wide range of platforms that will be supported by boundless innovation. Users are also able to utilize their digital assets such as NFTs as part of their customization options. 

Thus, individuals are able to select their desired traits and input them as entries on a blank ledger. Under this system, aspects such as gender and sex change from distinguishing traits and become optional entries in the digital ledgers. 

The creator can therefore either import their real-world character traits or entirely ignore them and develop a whole new fictional identity based on their preference. Such avatars can be made to mirror fictional characters like elves and dwarves. 

How the Metaverse Promotes Gender-equality

In the metaverse, social boundaries are not entirely significant. Through the use of customizable avatars, the issues of gender and equality are eliminated from the identity of a user. 

The identity of a user in the metaverse is based entirely on their avatar’s selected characteristics. This categorization is devoid of the traditional sex, gender and other sociodemographic characteristics used to classify an individual’s identity in the real world. Through this approach, traits such as gender and race become entirely irrelevant as the users can create fictional personalities. 

This feature allows individuals to safely navigate the metaverse using their preferred character. Similarly, the approach helps promote creative interests and positive interactions amongst users away from most of the present societal stereotypes. 

This elimination allows users to be treated like equals: Users develop profiles where their standing is entirely based on merit and interactions as opposed to real-world identities and characteristics.

However, it is important to note that the implications of using avatars in this manner on society remain under-explored. As such, the use of these digital characters showcases more positives than negatives. 

These outright advantages make their use a way to create a level playing field for individuals in the metaverse regardless of their real-world characteristics of identity.

Author’s Take

Gender equality is a social issue that is subject to much debate in the real world. The issue is spreading across new and existing technological solutions such as the internet and the metaverse worlds. However, the metaverse has worked to limit the influence of the issue in the interactions of users in the immersive and boundless digital multiverse.

By allowing users to fully control the customization of their characters, individuals are able to navigate the online world in a manner that is free of the barriers and identity constraints of their real-world characteristics.