Who Will They Choose?: Avatar Selection Without a Gender-Race-Match

Avatars in virtual spaces often serve as extensions of users. Avatar choice depends on context, with users typically selecting avatars they identify with. Race and gender can influence avatar selection. This study explores avatar choice when a gender-race-matched avatar is unavailable. We examine whether participants are more likely to choose a race-matched or gender-matched avatar in the absence of a gender-race-matched option. Results show that all participants select avatars matching at least one aspect of their identity. When forced to choose, participants favored gender-matched avatars over race-matched ones, suggesting gender may be more central to one’s identity during avatar selection.