Cyberbody as drag

I found this rather intriguing article that demonstrates the sexual desires or 'interface fantasy' users are enable to portray through virtual existence, in this case 'Second Life'. Linking to the theme of identity, Its become quite evident how a player could easily create an 'avatar' which does not reflect who they are in real life. This, in many cases, includes proposing a different gender to gain affection from another player. 

Source


Abstract:
Drawing on the topological approach Jacques Lacan
developed late in his career, this paper explores the
relation between a user and an avatar interpreted as prosthetic,
so that an avatar is seen as a prosthetic consciousness
and unconscious, a user’s virtual ‘Self’. Lacan’s
topological concept of ‘extimacy’ that subverts the
opposition between the inside and outside is used in
support of such an interpretation. The 3-D virtual
world of Second Life is taken as an example to illustrate
the digital projection of a user’s gender identity. The
paper suggests that Second Life is application of attachable
genitals in addition to basic male and female avatar
patterns makes the virtual process of taking a gender
identity similar to real life sexuation. This interpretation
leads to a conclusion about the fixity of the ego in the
imaginary realm (a typical human feature, according
to Lacan) and challenges the main postulates of posthumanism.


The article conlcudes that Second Life does not make us 'less human' but demonstrates
the fixity of the ego in the imaginary is essential for the human subject. 

Looking at the current control of social order online, I think that to some extent, representing yourself as a false avater/character could arguably lead to cyberbullying, as the perpentrator would almost have a virtual 'mask' to hide behind.