Noblegarden: Sexy or Sexist?
by Robin Torres 
May 1st 2009 at 1:00PM
We are nearing the end of Noblegarden, but haven't discussed here at WoW Insider the most controversial part of the event: Shake your Bunny-Maker. For this achievement, you have to put bunny ears on one female of each race that is over Level 18.
Before we go any farther in this discussion, I would like to state that I am female. Not that I am speaking for all females (no one can), but I think that it is important that you know where I am coming from. I also have a young daughter and would like the world to be a better place for her, as all parents do. It is also worth noting that the title for this post was inspired by one of my favorite movies: This is Spinal Tap. The band wants to release an album called Smell the Glove with a cover of a naked woman who is leashed and is forced to smell a glove. The lead singer mistakes the word "sexist" for "sexy". Hilarity ensues.
Before we go any farther in this discussion, I would like to state that I am female. Not that I am speaking for all females (no one can), but I think that it is important that you know where I am coming from. I also have a young daughter and would like the world to be a better place for her, as all parents do. It is also worth noting that the title for this post was inspired by one of my favorite movies: This is Spinal Tap. The band wants to release an album called Smell the Glove with a cover of a naked woman who is leashed and is forced to smell a glove. The lead singer mistakes the word "sexist" for "sexy". Hilarity ensues.
The name and picture of that fictional album is undeniably sexist and degrading to women. But does that apply to the in-game actions of forcing bunny ears on appropriately "aged" females? Sutro at Feministing.com seems to think so (as do a few of our readers who wrote in about this topic). He calls this achievement "unconscionable", which is a pretty strong word.
Without a doubt, putting the ears only on female characters and having them be the equivalent of legal age to pose nude is a reference to Playboy. And Playboy, as most adults know, is a men's magazine with naked women inside AKA smut or porn. Many people believe that all porn objectifies and is otherwise demeaning to women, even if considered tasteful as many consider Playboy to be.
But while the female characters have no choice as to wearing the bunny ears, which Sutro says makes many female players feel uncomfortable in real life, they are not stripped down into a Playboy Bunny outfit or otherwise affected in any other way. So this really comes down to knowing what the reference is and being bothered by it.
On the one hand, anyone who doesn't know it's a Playboy reference, such as children, just think it's fun to put bunny ears on other players like they forced pumpkins on players' heads during Hallow's End. It is just bunny ears to them and is innocent fun. Other people enjoy the pop culture reference and also mean no harm when participating in the event.
Personally, I wish they had left the gender and level restrictions out of the achievement. Being "forced" to wear bunny ears doesn't bother me at all and I am having a good time in Noblegarden, but I don't think this was the smartest decision Blizzard has ever made. (Edited to add: I tried to present both sides of the topic here, but if you are interested in my full, unbridled opinion, I've expounded on my personal blog.)
| Yes, they should change the achievement to be any gender and level. | |
|---|---|
| Yes, the achievement should be removed. | |
| No, it's all in good fun. | |
| Not in this day and age. | |
| Bunnies are cute! |
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Events, Virtual selves, Achievements
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 19)
Chilblain May 1st 2009 1:05PM
Amanda Dean?
Drow May 4th 2009 9:49AM
I win:
http://pix.motivatedphotos.com/2008/7/17/633519250067556317-envy---it-wears-a-coat-and-hangs-out-in-hallways.jpg
http://www.pown.us/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/234.jpg
offday May 1st 2009 2:28PM
Ok. I'm sorry, but this is the dumbest article I've ever read on WoW Insider.
Chilblain May 1st 2009 2:35PM
LOL @ Drow...
You couldn't be more right.
vwvstarboyvwv May 1st 2009 2:49PM
this article screams "BAAAAAWWWWW!"
there are many places for intelligent applications and discussions of feminism...this ain't fucking one of em.
Friday_Knight May 1st 2009 2:53PM
This is indeed the stupidest article I've ever seen on this site. You really ought to know who your core audience are here and how poorly something like this would be received. This sort of hippie feminist crap just isn't taken seriously anymore and certainly shouldn't be.
It's just another instance of a group of people deciding to become offended and using that as an excuse to attack something they personally have a problem with. If you don't like it, don't participate. No one cares if you're offended. You're not important and your feelings don't matter.
This whole thing is simply for entertainment. It's totally harmless and for you creatures to twist it to be about your tender sensibilities is infuriating. No one gives a damn what you think nor should they.
Yes, the achievement is a thinly veiled Playboy reference. Get over it and get over yourselves. Playboy is a part of pop culture and Warcraft has always has pop culture references cleverly inserted into the game. That's one of the reasons why it's so good. Whether or not you think Playboy is degrading to your gender is irrelevant. No one cares.
@ Drow: Couldn't be more spot on.
I think there should have been an option in the survey that read thus:
"Girls don't play WoW. Now get back in the kitchen."
Adrian May 1st 2009 3:14PM
When I logged onto the site this morning and saw this article posted, I thought: great! WowInsider is acknowledging the fact that there might, y'know, be social implications to a game with such a large player population -- the largest in the world, last I checked.
But then I thought: now here comes the conjecture, name-calling, dismissiveness and general trolling that always accompanies said acknowledgement, especially when dealing with a subject that's still divisive so many years after feminism's first wave.
Before you wade into the comments here, I urge you to check out the article linked by WI:
http://community.feministing.com/2009/04/wow-thats-boring-lets-add-sexi.html)
In the comments there, you'll see that it's not only possible to have a thoughtful discussion regarding this topic, it should be mandatory.
Thank you, Robin, for this article.
Terrant May 1st 2009 3:15PM
@offday etc.
The majority of this entry was presenting opinions argued by others. The amount of editorializing by Robin was minimal. In fact, the title of the entry itself is a question, and included a poll with a multiple range of responses. Considering WoWInsider tries to present pretty much everything that happens in and about WoW, it was worthwhile for them to bring this debate up, and even contribute, in a limited way, to the discussion. This article was far more even-handed than not; to blast it as dumb simply because you disagree with some of the ideas is as misdirected as a hunter's aggro.
Worcester May 1st 2009 3:41PM
2 Questions...
Isn't WoW rated T for Teens?
Isn't Playboy actually run by a woman?
And a follow up... don't female models and adult actresses make about 4 times more than their male counterparts?
Sexistpig May 1st 2009 5:38PM
Please forgive me for what I am about to say...
Take my bunny ears!!!! Take it!!!! You know you want it!!!! You'll take my bunny ears and love it!!! Say my name!!! Scream for my bunny ears you dirty little level 18!!!
See, if you put it in that kind of context, then yes, that part of the holiday was a little sexist.
Zanathos May 1st 2009 8:59PM
@ Adrian
That presupposes that there's a discussion worth having. The only discourse worth having about fembloggers who feel oppressed by having rabbit ears FORCED on their level 18+ wow characters is already taking place: relentlessly mocking.
That being said, I'm not sure why so many people are upset by the WoW Insider poster. The article didn't strike me as overtly anti-rabbit ears. It's not like I get mad at Jon Stewart when he's highlighting some hilariously tragic piece of news. It's the same thing.
Cat May 1st 2009 9:32PM
Really, women should feel empowered by this achievement.
If we're going to take the analogy between 18th level and the Age of Consent seriously, then the fact that an overwhelming percentage of the female characters being bunnied are level 80 should be amazing.
80-year-old women being seen as SEXY? Wow, WoW. I, for one, am very impressed by Blizzard's ability to subtly remind us that ageism is a terrible blight, and that saggy skin should never be seen as a barrier to Super Sexy.
Go Blizz.
Also, I totally hope I'm as energetic as my toons are when I reach the 80th level.
Friday_Knight May 2nd 2009 3:53AM
After further reading through the original article I'd like offer up a quick apology. To Robin.
While I do think to an extent that even bringing up this subject on this site was just inviting a flame war I will say that she did give the old college try to present the subject in an unbiased manner. So if there is any way, in an unbiased manner, to start an emotionally-charged debate that any person experienced with the internet can tell is going to explode their site into a flame-fest Robin pulled it off.
So, just to clarify; my beef isn't with Robin. It's with the few feminazis trying to take a little fun out of an in-game holiday because some small part of it offended their tender sensibilities. If these are the things you have left to rail against then I think your battle may just be over.
Kat May 2nd 2009 11:10PM
As a feminist and a gamer i found it to be one thing to many in a game already overly sexualised, and i wish blizzard would take into consideration their female gamers and their integrity. I dont enojy playboy bunnies, in fact i thought them to belong to the past, and i find the whole idea to be demeaning and objectifying. I do think its important to not play on the idea of women as sexualised objects and definetly to not give them a choice in the matter, which was my greatest objection about this. I could walk around with my warrior in full plate gear and suddenly get turned into a parody of a figure from pornography. To say the least, i was not amused. I also think this is something that makes women eel alinated from the gaming world, and to not feel welcome. I think blizzard is loosing female players whith a stunt like this simply because there are a lot of women out there who dont want to play a game where they have to be sexual objects. There are also a lot of feminist gamers who feels this is yet another slap in the face from a industry who seems to believe their biggest audience is teenage boys.
All in all i feel this was a bad move. The gaming industry should help create a more equal enviroment, not play on gender roles that should have been obselete in the 50s.
Max May 1st 2009 1:06PM
I can see where the whole 'sexist' crowd is coming from, but really, it's all in good fun. As you said, its just a pop culture reference that does no real harm.
Yeng May 1st 2009 1:38PM
Yeah this wasn't sexist, just having a little fun. If you really wanted to target a noblegarden event as pornographic, look towards http://www.wowhead.com/?achievement=2497 where you bring your rabbit to find other rabbits and have them mate to create baby bunnies.
Karilyn May 1st 2009 2:41PM
Meh, I don't really find it sexist.
But at the same time, I think it would have been more fun, if you could do it to both genders, like the valentines day festival.
Not that I'm a fan of Playgirl magazine
Karilyn May 1st 2009 2:43PM
@Yeng
Blegh, that wasn't that bad, now THAT one people were blowing out of proportion. Your two bunnies come together, kiss each other on the nose, an egg comes flying out which explodes in confetti and flowers spring up and bunnies run every which direction.
It's hardly pornographic. I'd call it cute even. It's a very childlike expression of "Where do Babies come from?" akin to the Stork.
Yeng May 1st 2009 3:05PM
@Karilyn
I agree with you. I was speaking sarcastically, I don't find any of the achievements offensive personally. But if there was one to single out, the bunny sex one is more offfensive than the bunny ear one (even though both of them are amusing and humorous in my opinion).
If I recall the actual animation has the two bunnies run off into a patch of flowers to get it on and then the eggs start flying out of it. We'll ignore the fact that bunnies don't lay eggs.
AndremedaSC May 1st 2009 3:23PM
My issue is definately with the single gender objectification aspect. I don't have any problem with pop culture references, or with muted sexy stuff, as long it's reasonably respectful, and equal opportunity gender and orientation-wise. It's all in good fun...as long as everyone has an equal chance to give AND recieve that sort of thing.
Therefore, I think that if they are going to have a required achievement to put bunny ears on a female over level 18 of each race, they should also add a required achievment to put a black bowtie on a male over level 18 of each race. I'm not sure if as many people would get the Chippendales reference as are likely to get the Playboy reference, but it's the closest equivalent.