User:Immora

Gender Disparity in Guild Wars Armor Designs

• Successful designs have equivalent coverage and matching design features for both versions of the armor. While they are tailored to fit the male or female form, they are otherwise the same style. Well done! This is the design level to aspire to!
• The almost-theres have a shared design and almost the same amount of coverage and protection, but the woman's is additionally sexualized with differences such as a cleavage cut-out/"boob window" or a fit that emphasizes the buttocks. This may include more bared skin than the man has, but not necessarily.
• Others come close on coverage but not a matching design; they appear quite different despite having some shared elements or theme. For instance, the Ranger Druid Armor incorporates bamboo and a similar color palette for both versions, but the male version is based around a coat and trousers and the female version around a bodice and skirt.
• Failed designs have increased sexualization and unequal coverage/protection, often in the form of uncovered skin (such as limbs or midriff) on the female version that is not equally exposed on the male. In some cases, the armors differ so much that they don't even look like they're part of the same set.

This is not an evaluation of the quality of any individual armor designs or how much I personally like them. For instance, I absolutely love the female Necromancer Elite Kurzick armor, but I marked it "fail" because it is far more sexualized with its extensive netting cutouts and snugly fitted rear. I also love nearly all mesmer armor, but the male and female versions never look like they're the same design on a different body.

Commentary on fantasy and video game armor disparity:

• Dee at 6D: "Revenge of Teh Feminizimz! (Now with pictures!)"
• Kadomi at Live Like a Nerd: "Guild Wars 2 Beta: Barely Covered"
• Ryan at Mad Art Lab: "Fantasy Armor and Lady Bits"
• Zaewen at The Border House: "Rift: Meet the new MMO, same as the old MMOs"
• TVTropes: "Chainmail Bikini"

Warrior Armor

Out of 32 armor sets:

•  8 succeed  (25%)
•  15 almost have it  (47%)
•  9 fail  (28%)

Prophecies armor art

Ascalon		Krytan (collector)		Tyrian
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Charr Hide		Gladiator		Wyvern		Platemail		Templar
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Prophecies prestige armor art

Elite Charr Hide		Elite Gladiator		Elite Dragon		Elite Platemail		Elite Templar
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Factions armor art

Shing Jea		Canthan		Kurzick		Luxon
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Factions prestige armor art

Elite Canthan		Elite Kurzick		Elite Luxon
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Nightfall armor art

Istani		Sunspear
Female	Male	Female	Male

Nightfall prestige armor art

Elite Sunspear		Vabbian		Ancient		Primeval
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Eye of the North prestige armor art

Norn		Monument		Asuran		Silver Eagle		Deldrimor pieces
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Core prestige armor art

Obsidian
Female	Male

Ranger Armor

Out of 29 armor sets:

•  14 succeed  (48%)
•  5 almost have it  (17%)
•  6 came close on coverage, but look like different sets  (21%)
•  4 fail  (14%)

Prophecies armor art

Rawhide		Krytan (collector)		Tyrian/Leather
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Fur-Lined		Drakescale		Druid		Studded Leather
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Prophecies prestige armor art

Elite Fur-Lined		Elite Drakescale		Elite Druid		Elite Studded Leather
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Factions armor art

Shing Jea		Canthan		Kurzick		Luxon
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Factions prestige armor art

Elite Canthan		Elite Kurzick		Elite Luxon
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Nightfall armor art

Istani		Sunspear
Female	Male	Female	Male

Nightfall prestige armor art

Elite Sunspear		Vabbian		Ancient		Primeval
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Eye of the North prestige armor art

Norn		Monument		Asuran		Deldrimor pieces
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Core prestige armor art

Obsidian
Female	Male

Monk Armor

Out of 31 armor sets:

•  22 succeed  (71%)
•  7 almost have it  (23%)
•  2 fail  (6%)

Prophecies armor art

Roughspun		Krytan (Silk)		Monk/Tyrian
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Woven		Censor		Sacred		Dragon		Star
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Prophecies prestige armor art

Elite Woven		Elite Judge		Elite Saintly		Flowing		Labyrinthine
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Factions armor art

Shing Jea		Canthan		Kurzick		Luxon
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Factions prestige armor art

Elite Canthan		Elite Kurzick		Elite Luxon
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Nightfall armor art

Istani		Sunspear
Female	Male	Female	Male

Nightfall prestige armor art

Elite Sunspear		Vabbian		Ancient		Primeval
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Eye of the North prestige armor art

Norn		Asuran		Monument		Deldrimor pieces
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Core prestige armor art

Obsidian
Female	Male

Necromancer Armor

Out of 31 armor sets:

•  9 succeed  (29%)
•  13 almost have it  (42%)
•  9 fail  (29%)

Prophecies armor art

Initiate's (Ascalon)		Krytan (Pagan)		Tyrian
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Cabal		Fanatic		Necrotic		Scar Pattern		Profane
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Prophecies prestige armor art

Elite Cabal		Elite Cultist		Elite Necrotic		Elite Scar Pattern		Elite Profane
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Factions armor art

Shing Jea		Canthan		Kurzick		Luxon
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Factions prestige armor art

Elite Canthan		Elite Kurzick		Elite Luxon
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Nightfall armor art

Istani		Sunspear
Female	Male	Female	Male

Nightfall prestige armor art

Elite Sunspear		Vabbian		Ancient		Primeval
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Eye of the North prestige armor art

Norn		Asuran		Monument		Deldrimor pieces
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Core prestige armor art

Obsidian
Female	Male

Mesmer Armor

Out of 29 armor sets:

•  0 succeed  (0%)
•  4 almost have it  (14%)
•  16 came close on coverage, but look like different sets  (55%)
•  9 fail  (31%)

Prophecies armor art

Dilettante's		Krytan (Regal)		Tyrian (Stylish)
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Rogue		Courtly		Performer		Enchanter
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Prophecies prestige armor art

Elite Rogue		Elite Noble		Elite Elegant		Elite Enchanter
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Factions armor art

Shing Jea		Canthan		Kurzick		Luxon
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Factions prestige armor art

Elite Canthan		Elite Kurzick		Elite Luxon
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Nightfall armor art

Istani		Sunspear
Female	Male	Female	Male

Nightfall prestige armor art

Elite Sunspear		Vabbian		Ancient		Primeval
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Eye of the North prestige armor art

Norn		Asuran		Monument		Deldrimor pieces
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Core prestige armor art

Obsidian
Female	Male

Elementalist Armor

Out of 29 armor sets:

•  2 succeed  (7%)
•  2 almost have it  (7%)
•  2 came close on coverage, but look like different sets  (7%)
•  23 fail  (79%)

Prophecies armor art

Apprentice's		Krytan (collector)		Elementalist/Tyrian
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Flameforged		Iceforged		Stoneforged		Stormforged
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Prophecies prestige armor art

Elite Flameforged		Elite Iceforged		Elite Stoneforged		Elite Stormforged
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Factions armor art

Shing Jea		Canthan		Kurzick		Luxon
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Factions prestige armor art

Elite Canthan		Elite Kurzick		Elite Luxon
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Nightfall armor art

Istani		Sunspear
Female	Male	Female	Male

Nightfall prestige armor art

Elite Sunspear		Vabbian		Ancient		Primeval
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Eye of the North prestige armor art

Norn		Asuran		Monument		Deldrimor pieces
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Core prestige armor art

Obsidian
Female	Male

Assassin Armor

Out of 19 armor sets:

•  7 succeed  (37%)
•  4 almost have it  (21%)
•  8 fail  (42%)

Factions armor art

Shing Jea		Seitung		Canthan
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Exotic		Imperial		Kurzick		Luxon
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Factions prestige armor art

Elite Canthan		Elite Exotic		Elite Imperial		Elite Kurzick		Elite Luxon
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Nightfall prestige armor art

Vabbian		Ancient
Female	Male	Female	Male

Eye of the North prestige armor art

Norn		Asuran		Monument		Deldrimor pieces
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Core prestige armor art

Obsidian
Female	Male

Ritualist Armor

Out of 19 armor sets:

•  9 succeed  (47%)
•  2 almost have it  (11%)
•  5 came close on coverage, but look like different sets  (26%)
•  3 fail  (16%)

Factions armor art

Shing Jea		Canthan		Seitung
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Exotic		Imperial		Kurzick		Luxon
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Factions prestige armor art

Elite Canthan		Elite Exotic		Elite Imperial		Elite Kurzick		Elite Luxon
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Nightfall prestige armor art

Vabbian		Ancient
Female	Male	Female	Male

Eye of the North prestige armor art

Norn		Asuran		Monument		Deldrimor pieces
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Core prestige armor art

Obsidian
Female	Male

Paragon Armor

Out of 12 armor sets:

•  2 succeed  (17%)
•  4 almost have it  (33%)
•  2 came close on coverage, but look like different sets  (17%)
•  4 fail  (33%)

Nightfall armor art

Istani		Sunspear		Elonian
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Nightfall prestige armor art

Elite Sunspear		Vabbian		Ancient		Primeval
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Eye of the North prestige armor art

Norn		Asuran		Monument		Deldrimor pieces
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Core prestige armor art

Obsidian
Female	Male

Dervish Armor

Out of 12 armor sets:

•  1 succeeds  (8%)
•  8 almost have it  (67%)
•  3 fail  (25%)

Nightfall armor art

Istani		Sunspear		Elonian
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Nightfall prestige armor art

Elite Sunspear		Vabbian		Ancient		Primeval
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Eye of the North prestige armor art

Norn		Asuran		Monument		Deldrimor pieces
Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male

Core prestige armor art

Obsidian
Female	Male

Summary

•  Winningest:  Monk (71%)
•  Most Mismatched:  Mesmer (55% + 31% fails which were also mismatched = 86%)
•  Failingest: 
  • By fewest successes: Mesmer (0%)
  • By most fails: Elementalist (79%)