Gender Stereotypes in the Virtual World |
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To become more feminine or masculine is perhaps more accessible on Second Life than in real life. It is ridiculously easy to acquire bigger breasts, or bigger muscles, longer legs, or tighter abs. Are we looking for a Utopia? It seems, though, that gender stereotypes are perhaps accentuated to the max on this virtual world called Second Life. Women can easily acquire the so called “perfect” 36-25-36 figure. And men can accentuate their muscles as much as possible. But these two figures of appearance are the epitome of gender stereotypes. But even so, many avatars long for and achieve these qualities. Many women avatars are known to do a lot of shopping, of course, and “many of the stores in SL offer clothing, swimwear and lingerie which accentuate feminine sexual attractiveness.” (sex lives in SL). It does not seem that women escape to Second Life to be free of these gender expectations, because they are continually perpetuated online. |
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