Virtual Worlds and Intercultural Communication
When one enters an online virtual world one can expect to enter a new land with countless opportunities for adventure and to meet other players who come from different backgrounds. People tend to spend time and hang around others who think like them or enjoy the same activities, and for those who enjoy playing virtual games this is a perfect place to get to interact with people from all over the world. When one first enters Second life one gets to choose a screen name and that name will be used throughout the Virtual World adventure. The next step is to choose an avatar that will represent that person and every detail about the avatar can be designed by that person. If someone wants to be short, tall, busty, thin one can pick the characteristics that is desired as well as changing clothes depending on which destination is chosen. Hairstyles, color and length can be easily changed with a right click on the screen and before one knows it a whole other identity can be formed.
Growing up in the United States gives us the freedom to decide where we eat, what we look like, and who we choose to spend time with because is all up to us. That choice is not given to Arab women and they have to accept the role of someone who is separate from others and who is not allowed to make certain choices for her. “Arab women are equal as independent human beings, equal in the pursuit of knowledge, and equal in the freedom of expression (Jandt 2010, p. 227).” Women from this part of the world have different beliefs than us, and it is just as normal as apple pie is to us so we have to adjust our way on thinking about this culture. What this means is there is more to what we know about Arab life, and is safe to assume when we see images on TV that include violence we all become fearful and think everyone is bad. We can assume some of the beliefs we learned about Islam and Arab countries came from images on the TV or newspapers, but we all know those are not the best sources to gain factual information. Reporters need to catch people’s attention, so what we see may be very negative and that will make the viewer scared, and make a judgment that all people from that area of the world are bad.
If one has the right components to download the game called ‘Understanding Islam through the Virtual World’, one will be able to participate in going to a Masque and studying about the Islam religion and be able to connect with people from different areas of the world. In the Virtual World one can sit, walk, stand next to each and take part in the same activities and explore this new world without fear of breaking cultural traditions. The question in the back of my mind is do women need to hide the fact from their husbands that they want to enter this Virtual World and break some of the traditional rules that they have to abide? “Women are not allowed to go out alone, or speak to men other than their husband or blood kin, and they must always wear an Abaya but all of those rules change in this new Virtual World (Jandt 2010, p. 227).” In real life these rules must be followed or the women will most likely feel the repercussions if they are caught by their husbands but what happens in this virtual world?
Women in the game gain instant freedom because she can change her appearance and put on an outfit that is completely different from the Abaya. She can wear a short dress in whatever color she chooses with high heels, wear her hair long and flowing so it hits the middle of her back for all to see. To be covered up by an Abaya is normal for women and it is an “old tradition” and it helps to protect women from men (Jandt 2010, p. 227). “The veil represents honor, dignity, chastity, purity, and integrity and no part of a woman’s body can be shown in front of strangers (Jandt 2010, p. 227).” In the Virtual World this conservative way of looking and thinking about the difference between women and men can change the moment that someone enters the Virtual World. Rules are going to be broken by both men and women because it is in the safety of their own computer and home.
‘Understanding Islam through the Virtual World’, brings people together for fun and adventure it can be a great learning tool for those of us who do not know much about Islam. Playing virtual games is great because women can connect with other women all around the world and they do not have to leave their homes to do so. From the video that was shown in the article, it looks like the graphics are very well done and the colors are clear and gentle on the eyes. This is a great way to learn about Arab life because people can participate in different activities or just stand around and chat. One of the best parts for me is going shopping for clothes and making an avatar that fits my personality and women no matter what country they are from love to shop. The only limitation that I can see is people may not want to spend time to chat because it may be more fun to explore the Virtual World. Sometimes the conversation may not get that deep because sometimes people joke around and do not discuss serious things like world events. Just being together in the Virtual World is the first step to understanding each other, and most people have computers in their homes so it is easy to begin the new journey into the Virtual World.
References:
Jandt, F. (2010) An Introduction to Intercultural Communication (6th ed.).
Washington D.C.: Sage Publications.
Fouts J. S, King R. J,. (2010 , March 15). Understanding Islam through Virtual Worlds
(2008-2009). Retrieved from http://www.cceia.org/programs/archive/002/index.html
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