The Shaping of Digital Collectibles: Digital Imprints of Gender and Cultural Representation in the Age of the Non-Fungible Tokens Boom

Abstract

This study investigates gender and racial representation in the non-fungible token NFT market, uncovering biases that reflect societal inequalities. Despite the market's potential for diverse artistic expression, there is a notable misrepresentation and stereotyping of female and minority characters. The paper points to the need for systemic changes, using examples from gaming and AI language models to highlight the pervasive nature of these biases. It advocates for increased visibility of underrepresented artists, educational initiatives to support diverse creators, and collective efforts to enhance digital art. The study urges future research to explore strategies that use NFTs to promote equality and diversity in representation, addressing the inaccuracies in the portrayal of female characters and the stereotyping of racial characters, which contribute to a lack of misrepresentations and authenticity in the NFT space.