"Every female
WoW player has healed at least once." This, dear reader, is something I was told in-game the other day. As a dedicated anthropologist, I balk at sweeping generalizations such as these -- such things are almost never true. And the person who said this didn't mean "used a healing ability" -- he meant "played as a dedicated healer."
Once I called him on his generalization, there was more back-pedaling than in the Tour De France. Of course he knows that not every female player has played a healer. Female players who have only played for a few weeks and chose a pure DPS class, he allowed, wouldn't have!
But of course, there is a stereotype in
WoW that women heal. We've talked about it before, but it makes me wonder two things:
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Do most women have a healing character?
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If there's any truth in the stereotype (which I think there might be), why does healing appeal so much to women?
I have a theory, just a theory, if you'll allow me. I reckon it might be more that men stick to DPS and tanking, whereas women are happy to try healing. And once they start healing, they find that it's one of the more varied and interesting roles to play. Especially in PvE, where you learn fights by repeating the same actions over and over, healing is the one role that has the variety. So women stay healing once they start. But, like I said, it's just a theory.
Tags: featured, game-discussion, gamer-discussion, world-of-warcraft-discussion, world-of-warcraft-topics, wow-discussion, wow-hot-topics, wow-issues, wow-topics
Filed under: Breakfast Topics
Mar 12th 2012 at 8:00AM 
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 9)
Ruana Mar 12th 2012 8:05AM
Most of the women in my guild have healed as a dedicated healer. But then again, I can't think of any man in my guild who hasn't healed and had a dedicated healer alt at some point or another.
And in thinking about "mains" vs. "alts" if we go that route, we have more male main healers than we do female main healers.
noel mcleod Mar 12th 2012 9:49AM
Any GOOD WoW player who has been on for a while will have tried ALL of the classes. That's why you're allowed FIFTY alts. I mostly tank and heal, but my (languishing unplayed for months) main is a mage. And the best tank I have ever off-tanked for was a lady in her 30's with two toddlers.
I think somebody needs to lose his "last millenium" stereotypes!
Harvoc Mar 12th 2012 10:28AM
@ noel mcleod
So you're a bad player if you haven't tried all 10 classes? I can't tell if that's what you're trying to say or not.
noel mcleod Mar 12th 2012 10:58AM
Sorry, no that isn't what I was saying. I only know anyone who person who hasn't tried playing at least one of every class, although I'm pretty sure there are some very awesome players who have only ever played one toon. (The one person I do know has the Battlemaster achieve, so I think he is pretty good!). But generally, most people I know have tried out the other classes if only to learn the mechanics for BGs. Or because the next ex-pac is months away and they're bored. Or because the guild needs a race/class combo for an achievement.
I do think you should try out the other classes just for research and I play at least three classes at the same time, but that's not for everyone.
Snuzzle Mar 12th 2012 12:54PM
I think everyone in the game has tred healing at least once. Not everyone enjoys it, of course; but I should mention my favorite healer is a guy. It's a silly stereotype that "women heal, men tank".
It's funny though, when he and I are in a run together and we're both on our paladins. He's healing, I'm tanking, and on voice chat people keep mixing us up and assuming the female voice is the female paladin healer and the male voice is the male paladin tank. Lolnope
Stephanie Mar 13th 2012 2:32AM
The very first tank I ever ran with was a woman (she remains a woman to this day), and in that same instance my first ever healer was a man (he remains a man).
My very first class and reigning main is a pure DPS class. But I do have a "dedicated" healer alt (back in Wrath she also DPS'd, but I was underwhelmed with the Cata Ret Paladin), then again, I also have a dedicated tank (proper dedicated, she has never been anything but Prot).
I do enjoy healing, especially when there is a really hairy situation. Did I tell you about the time I healed heroic Oculus without a drake?
With tanking whether we win or lose, I still feel like a screw up. Like I need to be playing all the toons in the group in order for things to go smoothly.
But my true passion is DPS, I've got 9 characters and 6 exclusively DPS.
Jamie Mar 12th 2012 8:06AM
My wife loves to heal, but then she also turning things into toast as well as her mage. I'd say mage wins out though when it comes to playing.
She says she likes to heal because I play tank/melee a lot. I think she likes the idea of the tank/healer combination.
I know I certainly do!
cuppie Mar 12th 2012 8:11AM
Wait... What are these 'women' you speak of? I thought they were a myth or legend. Like Entwives or something.
Pam Mar 12th 2012 8:46AM
What server are you on? I think half our guild is womenz!
xvkarbear Mar 12th 2012 9:28AM
Old joke is not funny anymore.
Twowolves Mar 12th 2012 9:55AM
No, it's still funny.
mrtomhimself Mar 12th 2012 8:12AM
My wife never played anything but her Undead Warlock. Of course, she was never a dedicated player, and it seemed that she only logged on to kill bears, the Furbolg reputation the only one she ever got exalted with.
loop_not_defined Mar 12th 2012 10:27AM
My wife played a healing Priest back in Vanilla, but only because the guy she was dating was a creeper that refused to let her play anything but that. He was that concerned about what his friends would think - a Paladin playing with a non-Holy class. >.>
Now-a-days she plays what she's always wanted to play: a Destruction Warlock.
Noyou Mar 12th 2012 2:01PM
I wish that were true. I would have a guild full of healers. As it is I have 2-3 including myself. My guild is probably 65-70% female. All but one of them play DPS classes. There is one who tries to tank. So, so much for that theory.
Chucks Mar 12th 2012 8:14AM
I don't. Too much pressure.
Zedd Mar 12th 2012 2:15PM
My fiancé won't play tanks or healers for this exact reason. She loves her mage and has briefly tried other classes for rDPS, but won't pick up other roles because of the pressure.
So for what it's worth, there's one woman who has never tried healing.
Cheb Mar 12th 2012 8:14AM
Whoo broad sweeping generalizations that everyone can refute with "I know one female who hasn't!". I know several women who only started healing because they played a hybrid that could heal and then were never allowed to switch back. I know several who've picked hybrids and never healed except when pulls head south. I also know several men who've only played healers. One of the great things about WoW is how diverse the playerbase is. Generalizations like that are the sign of someone unfamiliar with the game or an incredibly small circle of friends.
Sqtsquish Mar 12th 2012 1:58PM
I think the biggest thing is everyone will occasionally like to check things out, people like to have a healer and dps are more often than not, replaceable so people get stuck healing. Women may just not decide to exit the role as often or as quickly SOMETIMES.
Crease Mar 12th 2012 8:18AM
As a casual raider , on a pretty high population realm, I'd say 33% of healers in DS and FL pugs are female (revealed by vent, usually) a smallet percentage are ranged dps (usually casters) smaller percentage are melee DPS, a MUCH smaller percentage are tanks . [not generalizing just sharing my experience]
also, there is a large amount of women in my guild compared to others, and 4 / 10 of the current core team are women. 2 of which are healers, 1 is the main tank but heals in PvP, and the last is a pure DPS melee Rogue.
Maybe we could get a poll going, How many female healers / players are in your core groups ? the common pug on your server ?
breeanna Mar 12th 2012 8:16AM
As a female player, I have tried healing, and loved it. My "main" (well, my achievement seeker) is a disc priest. I love healing in bgs most of all, though I'll heal randoms/raids when the urge strikes me.
I think sweeping generalizations about women in games are pretty low (girls don't play wow, anyone?). And I think this one is no exception...I think that most players have tried healing at least once--male or female. I think females just have a higher turnout for healing at endgame. Why? I'm not sure. There are biological differences in the way males and females process information, it would be interesting to see some brain scans of males and females playing different roles--I doubt we'll see that anytime soon though.
My favorite toon is still my tank though...I like to heal, but I much prefer to be tanking. Also, I think I fulfill a stereotypical female (as the case above presents) in that I like my dps to be ranged/casters compared to melee. But not all women gamers I know fit that mold.
For a full anthropological point of view, I'd be curious if this stereotype applies to transgendered players and younger players.