Regarding “Sexist” Bunny Ears – 18+

I’d like to discuss this new topic of Noble Garden and the Playboy Bunny reference being “sexist” and “degrading”. Please be aware that the following content is for 18+ year-old individuals.

Let me begin by introducing myself. I’m a young female, and I’ve been playing end-game WoW for over a year. I’ve been playing the game itself for over three years.

I loved the Playboy reference.

Some people won’t.

I also love the in-game grey item, [A Steamy Romance Novel] and the guide to courting the Undead.

Some people don’t.

I like sex.

Some people don’t.

I thoroughly enjoyed stripping off all my in-game clothing, putting on a pair of bunny ears, and dancing in the streets.

Some people wouldn’t.

Is Playboy sexist? No. It just focuses on sex because that’s the point of the magazine. Do all male-targeting magazines focus on sex? No. Do all male-targeting magazines use naked women to sell them? No. Playboy does, and that’s the purpose of its existence. Just like there are plenty of magazines you can buy for women with photos of attractive naked men. Why did the Blizzard crew decide you had to put bunny ears on females over 18? Because it had relevance to old tradition, and relevance to pop-culture. Spring is the time of fertility – FEMALE fertility, i.e. conception and pregnancy (and in case you didn’t know, that requires sex). Rabbits are a symbol of that fertility. This was not called “Happy Easter Kiddies Fun Time”. Every once in a while, Blizzard throws in a nice pop-culture reference for a few laughs. This is exactly the same thing, and it was completely relevant to both the game and the event.

Sex goes both ways. Either you can embrace sexuality in all its truths, or you can deny them and call things “unfair”, “biased”, or “sexist”. Men have stronger visual attractions to women, hence the need for visual stimulation and the plethora of nude magazines. Women do better conjuring mental images, like reading novels (have you any idea exactly how many sex novels are out there for women? and have you any idea the stereotypes they place on men? I’d say it’s easily the equivalent of Playboy from all angles). Shall I remind you all that it takes two to tango?

The truth is, both men and women are guilty of sexism. Why? Because we’re only human, and our bodies and minds are meant to function that way. Because men and women ARE different and DO have different roles on this earth. To deny that is to deny yourself, your very existence. Is either role better than the other? No. They’re equal, and we need each other and our individual traits. We are equal opposites by nature, meant to balance each other out, meant to fit together as one. To allow yourself to feel slighted by a man who assesses your physical looks is allowing yourself to be placed into an unnatural stereotype. Of course men are going to look at you! And don’t pretend you don’t look at men, either.

By playing along with Blizzard’s little Playboy reference, are you debasing yourself as a woman? I say no. Not in the slightest. Are men disrespectful for putting bunny ears on you? I say no. Not in the slightest. Will playing along with this reference cause me to decide I want to suddenly go out for a naked photo shoot and send it to Playboy in real life? No, not likely. Would it be horrible if I did? Hell no, women are beautiful and the female body is a glorious piece of art. Be proud of your feminine strengths and learn to accept your feminine weaknesses. Let’s separate reality from idealism and understand that not just women are treated in a sexually oriented manner. And let’s realize that beautiful nude women exert a certain form of power over the men who are attracted to them, and it all goes both ways. Was this only done because men create the game and felt that only men played the game, and so therefore could have their own private sexual woman-degrading event? Please…spare me. Although I do agree that many men who play the game do enjoy looking at the beautiful female avatars in their underwear because they rarely get to see such a pleasing sight. Is that so wrong? No.

Understanding your own nature is the key to understanding others’. Bring on the bunny ears, and I’ll keep watching those sexy male Blood Elves shake their fine boxer-shorted booties. Maybe for Children’s Week, the men can all take the kids to Chucky Cheese while the women get a pedicure and talk about the size of their lovers’…well, you get the point.

❤ Nass

~ by Kelly Jennelle on May 1, 2009.