In my experience, I have not been discriminated against or treated differently walking around as a black female or a white male. However, it follows that if I was I could simply change the way I looked to become more accepted. Virtual worlds allow me to avoid conflict if I wish to. In a way I could get a fresh start if I wanted to.
Another advantage is that of increased communication within a virtual classroom. When you can look the way you want to look you tend to gain confidence. Increased communication within the classroom promotes a better learning community. It also serves as an environment to study these interactions. We can figure out what are some of the ways that people change their communication when dealing with a different gender/race/ other identifying factor.
The way that we create our avatar can be used to create discussion on a great deal of identifying traits. We do not realize all the things that serve to define us, however creating an avatar and having to literally account for these things can be a reminder and make us socially aware. Language is one characteristic. People tend to make judgements about what another person can speak based on their physical appearance.
In conclusion, virtual avatars allow us the opportunity to be viewed the way we want. When making them, we consciously decide on whether or not we want to accept the stereotypes that come with that characteristic. At the same time, we might assume that to a certain extent, we view those characteristics that same way. Someone studying virtual characters could figure out just by observing and studying how people prefer to look.
