"I'm a Bimbo girl- In a Bimbo World"

By Yasmeen Ahmed- Why couldn't the blonde bimbo add 10 and 7 on a calculator? She couldn't find the 10 key. A bimbo is walking down the street with a pig under her arm. She passes a person who asks, ''Where did you get that?'' The pig says, ''I won her in a raffle''.What are the blonde bimbo's first words after 4 years of college? 'Would you like fries with that?'



'Bimbo' ....a word used to describe an 'attractive, clumsy, easy, airheaded' female. She is often seen as a dumb blonde and bears the brunt of numerous jokes in society (as highlighted above). And a 'bimbo' doesn't have to be blonde, Oh NO!! As long as a woman/girl fits the general description, then she can be classed as 'a bimbo'.

So, is it ok and acceptable to us that women are given this degrading label? And, what if young women out there actually aspire to become 'a bimbo'? It's a very disturbing thought, isn't it?

A new web game named Miss Bimbo was launched in the UK just a couple of months ago. Players taking part in the beauty contest simulation game are challenged to become 'the hottest, coolest, most famous bimbo ever'.

I decided to register to get an insight into the game. The player is presented with a naked virtual character to groom into a perfect 'bimbo'. To achieve this goal the player is provided with a host of beautifying tools, including - plastic surgery, sun beds, beauty parlours, the latest fashions - including sexy lingerie, and diet pills.
For the 'bimbo' to be cool and famous, the player can take her on pub crawls, get her wearing the skimpiest clothes, take her clubbing, make sure she's keeping her weight down, dating virtual boys and if she's lucky, hooking up with the virtual eligible billionaire on the loose!

In the registration confirmation email sent by the website they boast that the game is played mainly by 7 - 17 year olds from all over the world. In the UK alone the game is currently played by over 200,000 players, most of whom are girls aged between 9 - 16 years old.

The game has sparked up a controversial debate and has been condemned amongst parents' groups as well as health care professionals. These groups are concerned that it is sending an unhealthy message to impressionable young people; they are also worried that 'the bimbo' is seen as a role model for the members of the site; and as with any virtual children's website there is the very real threat of online sexual predators.

The game's maker, web designer Nicolas Jacquart, argues that the game is intended to be a satirical beauty contest simulation game which 'mirrors real-life in a tongue-in-cheek way'.

It's understandable why parents groups and health care professionals have condemned the game, but the question I'd like to pose is, what difference would it really make if the game was banned today? The honest, simple, answer? ...none whatsoever.

Let's take a look at some other realities young women and girls face/have faced living in today's society:-

o Not so long ago Tesco, (yes TESCO)! was condemned for having a pole dancing kit in the toy section, Tesco direct advertised the kit with the words 'unleash the sex kitten inside...simply extend the peek-a-boo pole, slip on the sexy tunes...and away you go'

o Equally as shocking, Asda was condemned for marketing black lacy underwear FOR 9 YEAR OLD GIRLS!!

o Bratz dolls outsell Barbie dolls by two to one, and come dressed in fishnet tights, mini skirts and are known for their pouting lips and provocative looking eyes

o It is the norm to see young girls wearing t-shirts with logo's such as 'SO MANY BOYS, SO LITTLE TIME' also young women can be seen with logo's like 'PORN STAR' on their t-shirts

o Girls as young as 6/7 have fake tans/even go under the sun bed

o Popular role models are the likes of Britney Spears, Girls Aloud, Beyonce...(need i say anymore on that one)?

o A regular thread in teen magazines (which are popular amongst younger girls too) is beauty, fashion, boys, entertainment, celebrity gossip, and fun

o In a study of 8-10 year olds approximately half the girls were unhappy with their size

o Eating disorders, like anorexia, bulimia and binge eating, are becoming increasingly prevalent throughout western countries in children from as young as 6 years old

o Music channels like MTV or the Bollywood equivalent, B4U are widely watched amongst young people; women are portrayed as highly sexual, scantily clad, skinny 'objects'

o A recent survey showed that by the age of 14 around 9 out of 10 girls apply some sort of make-up

o The Association of Teachers and Lecturers have in the not so distant past called for age restrictions on magazines such as Bliss, Sugar and Cosmo girl on the basis that they were 'full of explicit sexual content' and 'glamorise promiscuity'

And the list goes on, and on. It doesn't make for comfortable reading.

Once, many years ago when I visited Blackpool Pleasure Beach, I came across a game in the arcade section (not a section I visit anymore : ). It was a table which had 'ugly monsters' in it. The aim of the game was that whenever a monster reared its ugly head, you had to bash it with a hammer. The problem was that lots of monsters reared their ugly heads at a quick speed; one after the other/even a few together and a monster would re-appear time and time again from the same hole too...it was impossible to bash all the monsters to knock them out in order to win the game. The only way to combat all the monsters is to unplug the game, and just not play.

'Miss Bimbo' the game is like one of those monsters, its one of many monsters...and we could go round hammering these monsters and using our energy and effort to do that; but the problem is that not only will the monster be quickly replaced by another monster; but there are many other monsters bobbing up at the same time.

What needs to be looked at is the reason why these issues arise time and time again. What sort of a society is it where these types of problems take root and flourish?
Despite the efforts of the feminist movement, young women and girls are today more conscious of their body image (for all the wrong reasons) than they've ever been.

We live in a day and age of 'girl power', where young women believe they are in control and empowered because they are making the decision for themselves to dress in hot pants in public if they choose; to become a page 3 model if they want; to spend endless £ on cosmetics, dieting products and plastic surgery; to behave like a 'ladette' and drink till they drop; or to aspire to be a 'bimbo'.

Some important questions which need to be addressed:-

Who is it that benefits from young women having hang ups about themselves and hence spend huge amounts of £ on cosmetics/latest fashion/dieting products/drink/plastic surgery etc?

Who is it that defines beauty?

Why is it that women and girls today are not only viewed as sex objects, but they themselves uphold this degrading position and claim this is 'girl power'?

Answer:- The system; i.e. the government with its powerful media propaganda machine in tow, and its greed for making money anyway, anyhow.

So the problem here is two fold. Firstly the system whose goal is to fill its pockets through whichever means, and its propagating of and upholding of 'freedom' for the people; secondly the thoughts and emotions of the people, who hold fast to this false notion of 'freedom'.

As a result we see games like Miss Bimbo emerge....the maker is exercising his freedom (and has a valid point in that he's just mirroring society at large); we see parent and health groups exercising their freedom of speech in condemning such a thing; we see young girls and women exercising their freedom of expression by wearing as little as they want, spending money on make-up, fake tans, even plastic surgery. It really is a game of ugly monsters, and its a no win situation.

I'll never forget the day that I felt true freedom...that warm embrace from a way of life that gave me as a woman an honourable, dignified position. Where beauty isn't defined by how big or small a certain part of my body is/by how much make up I have caked on/how little I wear/by how close to a size0 I am.

At a personal level as a Muslim woman I understand that I am accountable for my well being, hence I eat healthily and take regularly exercise. I also take pride in my appearance, look presentable, and keep myself well groomed, as I know this is pleasing to Allah (swt). In terms of beauty, s/he who strives to be pious and has belief in Allah is the most beautiful in the sight of Allah. The measurement is done with completely different scales.

At the level of the system that governs over us, Islam is the only way of life which ensures the protection of, and upholds the honour and dignity of women....it is the true liberator for us women (contrary to what propaganda would have you believe).

I was notified via email that 'my bimbo' had died because I hadn't looked after her; may we soon witness the day when the system which allows and encourages these ills to exist is unplugged, dead and buried.