Path of Exile 2 (POE 2) provides an immersive and expansive gaming experience, with its complex gameplay mechanics, intricate item crafting systems, and robust player-driven economy. While the game offers players a space for exploration, competition, and collaboration, the dynamics within its in-game market also reveal underlying patterns of inequality. Just as feminist economics highlights the systemic gender disparities that exist in traditional economies, it can also shed light on similar issues within virtual economies, such as those seen in POE 2's trading networks. By analyzing the distribution of wealth, the roles of players, and the ways gender dynamics manifest in virtual spaces, we can better understand how the game mirrors or deviates from real-world gender inequality.

The Principles of Feminist Economics

Feminist economics seeks to examine the ways that gender inequality is embedded within economic systems, both in terms of access to resources and opportunities. It challenges traditional economic models that often ignore the contributions of women and other marginalized groups, focusing instead on metrics such as GDP, production, and profit. Feminist economists argue that economic success should be measured not just by output but also by the well-being of individuals, particularly those from historically underrepresented or disadvantaged groups.

In the context of virtual economies like POE 2, feminist economics provides a framework to analyze the ways that gender inequalities may emerge in online spaces. This can involve examining how female players and characters are represented in the game, how they engage with the in-game economy, and how gendered assumptions may influence interactions in trading networks. The game’s virtual marketplace is, in many ways, a reflection of real-world economic systems, where power dynamics and systemic inequalities are often hidden beneath the surface.

Gender Representation in POE 2

A critical aspect of feminist economics in virtual worlds is the examination of how gender is represented in gameplay. In POE 2, players can choose to embody a variety of characters, some of which are male and others female. While the game offers a diverse range of characters with different abilities, backgrounds, and skills, the representation of women within the game is often limited or stereotypical. Female characters, while playable, are frequently depicted through the lens of traditional gender roles, such as the "healer" or the "support" archetype, roles that historically have been undervalued in both real and virtual economies.

This limited representation can affect how female players approach the game’s economy. For example, female characters may find themselves relegated to certain types of roles within the player-driven economy—such as crafting or supporting others—while male characters may dominate roles associated with higher economic returns, like combat or leadership positions. These gendered divisions of labor are not necessarily dictated by the game mechanics themselves but often emerge through socialization and the ways players interact with the game’s economic structures.

The Gendered Dynamics of Trading Networks

In POE 2, the player-driven economy revolves around a complex trading network where players exchange valuable items, resources, and currencies. This network is shaped by demand and supply, with certain items holding significant value due to their rarity, utility, or relevance to gameplay strategies. However, just as with other economic systems, gender dynamics can play a role in how individuals navigate the market.

Female players, particularly in male-dominated gaming communities, may face challenges when engaging in the game’s trading systems. Studies in other virtual economies have shown that women are often marginalized in gaming spaces, experiencing discrimination, harassment, or stereotyping. This marginalization can extend to virtual markets, where female players may struggle to be taken seriously as traders or sellers, particularly when competing with male players who dominate the economic landscape. In some cases, female players might find themselves excluded from certain networks, making it more difficult to engage in high-level trading or accumulate wealth.

Furthermore, gender biases can affect the way that female players’ trades are perceived. In male-dominated spaces, there may be a tendency for trades initiated by women to be undervalued or dismissed, while trades initiated by men are viewed as more legitimate or trustworthy. This creates a barrier for female players who want to participate in the economic aspect of POE 2 to its full extent, limiting their potential for financial success within the game. Such biases can also affect the way that female players are treated by other players, with some even questioning their expertise or knowledge of the game based solely on their gender.

Economic Disparities and Player Behavior

The in-game economy of POE 2 operates much like the real world, where resources are distributed unequally and wealth accumulation is often influenced by both individual skill and systemic advantages. In POE 2’s trading network, those with the most valuable items or knowledge of market trends tend to be the wealthiest players. However, gender disparities may affect how certain players are able to access the information, resources, or networks that allow them to succeed in the market.

For example, female players may encounter fewer opportunities to learn about the intricacies of the game’s economy or may have fewer social connections within the game’s community. This lack of access to information and resources can limit their ability to engage in high-level trading, preventing them from reaching the economic heights that others may easily attain. Moreover, because the game often incentivizes competition for valuable items, the players with the most resources and the most economic leverage will continue to amass wealth, further entrenching inequalities within the virtual economy.

This mirrors real-world economic systems, where individuals from marginalized genders may face systemic barriers to wealth accumulation, even when they possess the same skills or talents as their male counterparts. Gendered economic disparities can be perpetuated through socialization, access to resources, and institutionalized biases, all of which play a role in determining who succeeds and who fails within an economic system.

Potential for Change: Empowering Female Players in POE 2

In order to address the gender disparities that exist within POE 2's economy, both developers and players must work together to create a more inclusive and equitable environment. Game developers can take steps to ensure that female characters are better represented in the game, not just in terms of appearance but also in terms of power and influence within the game’s economy. By creating more diverse and empowering roles for female characters, developers can challenge traditional gender norms and encourage players to engage with the game’s economic systems in more equitable ways.

Furthermore, fostering a more inclusive community within POE 2, where female players are supported and encouraged to participate in trading and economic activities, can help reduce the barriers they face. Female players can also form networks and alliances to navigate the game’s economy together, providing mutual support and challenging gendered assumptions about what roles women can occupy within the market.

Conclusion

While Path of Exile 2 is a game that offers a rich and immersive experience, it is not immune to the gender disparities that exist within broader economic systems. By examining the ways in which gender dynamics shape the virtual economy, we can gain insights into the ways that feminist economics can inform our understanding of virtual worlds. The game’s trading networks, gendered labor divisions, and economic power imbalances reflect many of the challenges faced by women in real-world economies. However, by recognizing these disparities and working to create more inclusive spaces, both developers and players can contribute to a more equitable in-game economy for all.