“One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman."

-Simone de Beauvoire

The gendered behaviors of “males” and “females” are not passed inherently from mother to fetus, but are rather determined by cultural norms, media’s presentation of gender, social cues, etc. As we grow older, we learn how to “become” male or female within our own communities through the way we hold ourselves, the kind of language we use, our sexual interests and behaviors, our dress, etc.

Enough with the introduction, though. We all know by now that our commonly accepted notions of “femininity” and “masculinity” are far too rigid, and cause innumerable social problems. “If only girls weren’t sexualized at such a young age, and if only boys were allowed to cry,” we think, “maybe we’d all be able to feel more comfortable in our own skins.”

In light of these discourses, cyber-culture presents an interesting twist to the years-old concept of gender as a social construct. How do males and females act within the world of cyberspace, through computer-mediated communications, blogs, forums, virtual worlds, social networking sites, etc.? In visually-oriented communities like Second Life, how are some gendered stereotypes reinforced, and how are others abandoned? Can these communities truly allow for gender-free discourse, or are we still a long way from a post-gender society?