Female Dragons Hoard Eighty-One Silver for Every One Gold Male Dragons Hoard
“Female dragons take more time off from raiding to defend their clutch of eggs from evil wizards that want to capture them.”
A new study published in Dungeonology Quarterly provides evidence that, on average, female dragons gain less treasure for their hoard compared to their male counterparts. The study, which examined the treasure of 73 different dragons over 100 years, was conducted by the Greater Elvish Institute of Research to gain an understanding of dragon’s hoarding tendencies. Grant funding was provided by the Guild of Dungeon Delvers to study the future sustainability of raiding dragon lairs as a profession.
For many dragons, this is not new information. “We’ve always gained less treasure than male dragons, it’s obvious to us,” says ancient female green dragon Nessilath. “All you have to do is look at the lairs. Male dragons get the lairs closer to the major cities and have better territories. The adventurers that come to slay them have more treasure as well. They get more treasure just from defending their lair.”
Many researchers support the green dragon’s assertations. “We’ve interviewed many adventurers who say they prefer raiding male dragon hoards, both for monetary reasons and the effects to their social status. And it is usually the better equipped adventurers who get to them first. Many less wealthy and less equipped adventurers self-select into female dragon hoards. So we have an overt avoidance of female dragon hoards, but this has also led to wealth inequality that amplifies the effect.”
Critics of the research cite problems with the methodology and claim the results could be misleading. “I have to question how accurately the hoards were valued,” says Professor of Dragon Sociology Gwerth Heathnoll. “There is evidence that suggests that female dragon’s may be hiding their treasure better than male dragons, such as in secret chambers. And the sections of data that are self-reported can’t be trusted either, as studies show male dragons tend to overexaggerate their hoard size. We should do more research before we start enacting any policy.”
Others contend that the difference does exist, but that sexism isn’t the source of the discrepancy. “Most of the differences in hoard growth can be explained by the amount of villages they raid a week,” Professor Yurels Von Bictor tells The Dungeon Tribune. “Female dragons take more time off from raiding to defend their clutch of eggs from evil wizards that want to capture them.” Nessilath sees that a sign of much deeper-rooted dragon sexism. “We don’t naturally want to take care of the eggs and whelps more than male dragons, that’s a social construct. It’s a role we’re forced into.”
The Greater Elvish Institute of Research is currently planning further research into the topic.