While sterotypes of both gender are part of the internet, gerneral users can usually benefit from them by finding easy ways to disguise themselves as a member of the opposite gender. The stereotypes ultimately provide a barrier to shut out and hide. Both have positive and negative issues. For men to play a woman, in a chat room or MUD usually requires little description in writing. BUT, for a man to play a woman on the streets require more such as shaving parts of their body, wearing wigs, dresses, heels, changing their voices, etc. Therefore, virtual "cross-dressing" is easier and people continue to want to try it because they could not be arrested.

Some of the things that work when you are a man, backfire when you are a woman. A female character would usually receive help so a man playing a female may respond to an offer of help. "Such chivalries communicate belief in female incompetence." There are other examples of gender swapping such as "As you like it"- a classic example of a comedy that uses gender swapping to reveal new aspects of identity.

 There are also characters such as Garrett, a 28 year old male who is a frog named Ribbit on MUD. He states, "I wanted to know more about women's experiences and not just from reading about them. I wanted to see whst the difference felt like. I wanted to experiment with the other side. I wanted to be collaborative and helpful and I thought it would be easier as a female. As a man, I was brought up to be territorial and competitive. I wanted to try something new." In some ways, he felt that the female ways of communicating were more productive than male. He did feel freer to express the helpful side of his nature than he ever had a man. "My competitive side takes a seat back when I am Ribbit."