An Island of Women in There

When i first heard about the iVillage's intention to have a women-only island on the online game There, i couldn't help but laugh. An island of women... Lesbos. In thinking that, i couldn't help but agree with Terra Nova's critique that "the branding of a virtual space as female automatically sexualizes it." [There are other great critiques at Terra Nova's blog too!]

Of course, women's only spaces are not new. Foe Romeo shares her own experience with an all women's channel. I also can't help but think about the problems that i saw in a physical women's only environment, at the Michigan's Womyn's Music Festival. Who defines 'women'? Who polices the boundaries? What are the consequences of rigid boundaries? Michigan was horrifying with its womyn-born-womyn only policy... transwomen need not apply. It was offensive and failed to present the women's solidarity that i would've expected.

Often, the goal of segregated spaces is to provide safe space, a place where people can escape from the need to maintain walls... it's a place where everyone's supposed to feel accepted being who they are without having to defend themselves. Safe space is a wonderful thing, but it must be handled delicately. I'm not entirely sure how i feel about iVillage's plan, but i'm definitely intrigued enough to watch what emerges and i'm looking forward to the discussion.

[Thanks BoingBoing]