Sexism in the Cosplaying community

Angela Crocker talks to Chloe Povey and Hanna Woolgar two cosplayers who have experienced harassment while in costumes.

 

In 2014 Geeks for CONsent gathered more than 2,600 signatures calling for comic cons to create and enforce more effective anti-harassment policies.

 

Cosplaying is a community that continues to grow in popularity, more and more people are choosing to dress up in a wide range of TV and movie characters ranging from Game of Thrones’ Jon Snow, to cult anime protagonist Naruto. The rise in cosplaying has have a dramatic effect on multi-genre entertainment conventions, such as San Diego Comic-Con which will have over 150,000 attendees. However, when it comes to any large-scale event there is often underlying issues. In this case it’s the sexism that follows the female cosplayers, who can be made to feel uncomfortable from the attention of their outfits. It’s a taboo in the world of cosplaying and more needs to be done about it.

 

You hear the horror stories from female cosplayers about certain fans who begin stalking and harassing them to dress up as their fetishized fantasies and won’t accept no for an answer. Two female cosplayers bravely spoke to us about their experiences at Comic-Con events and how the issues that arose followed them home.

 

Chloe Povey is a 19-year-old from Manchester who when not working or studying, spends her time cosplaying with her partner in crime, Jake Johnson. She spoke about how she started her passion and how she has always been dressing up in some form. She was introduced to it by an old friend “That was six years ago, and I’ve been a cosplayer ever since.”

 

She carried on talking about why she does this and said it was a way for her to feel closer to her favourite characters. “It also allows me to meet other people who are interested in the same fandoms as me.” She has recently set-up an Instagram page dedicated to her and Jake’s characters. “I’ve started making my own costumes and found it a positive way to cope with any stress I’m going through in my work, academic or personal life.” She added that it is one the best aspects of being a cosplayer, the fun of making your favourite character come to life.

 

However, when suggesting perhaps a sinister aspect to the cosplaying community and the effect it has on women. “Female cosplayers get a lot of negative attention, particular if they’re cosplaying a ‘sexier character’”. Chloe went on to say that some people in the community argued that some of the more revealed cosplayers are not ‘real cosplayers’ and are attention seekers. She fought back “Which cosplayers don’t want to be looked at, complementing our costumes at least for me, is very appreciated.”

 

“People seem to think that they can fetishize cosplayers which makes it a very uncomfortable experience.” This can be horrible to even imagine and can turn an enjoyable experience of self-expression into self-loathing. Chloe mentioned that she’d been asked uncomfortable questions about when she’s been wearing her costumes.

 

 

 

 

 

Chloe told us about her worst experience of when she cosplayed as Rogue a character from X-Men. She had attended a convention with one of her friends who tragically had a seizure and needed medical attention. However, when they arrived, she felt the helper laid all of his attention onto her. “I figured he was trying to lighten the mood. As we left, he asked for my Instagram not thinking anything sinister from it, until he messaged me asking if I was in character” This man was later blocked.

 

Looking further into this she spoke about what the conventions do to help stop sexual harassment and commented that there are signs across the venue to remind people that they’re not actually the characters they’re portraying. The signs carry on saying that if any harassment or any cosplayer is made to feel uncomfortable will face negative consequences.  She finishes to say, “If someone wants to cosplay a sexier character, then they should be able to without feeling like there is a potential for something negative to happen to them.”

 

Hannah Woolgar from Winchester aged 22, had a story that was not different from Chloe’s she started because a friend suggested it to her. She commented that her first cosplay was Cher from Clueless. “I just do it for fun really, it’s like a massive expensive hobby. I love seeing what people can create as well.”

 

Her comments on the matter of sexism also do not differ that far from Chloe’s experiences too. Saying that she was often treated differently to that of male cosplayers if you dressed more ‘revealing.’ She then carried on saying that the community is really good because often when someone is being attacked, they will come to your defence. “I have had comments made by other con-goers and also photographers which have definitely made me feel uncomfortable.”

 

She added to help out the pressure of perhaps un-wanted attention other cosplayers are there to help one and other. “If you ever feel uncomfortable at a convention a lot of cosplayers before comic con seasons will say on their stories to come up to them and act like your best friends.” What a sweet act of friendship and solidarity between cosplayers. She ended her statement talking about how the drama will never leave and that she has to just ignore it and move on.

 

A community coming together to celebrate their favourite shows, films or even comic books you would assume that it would be a drama free world however its further from it. Now more female cosplayers are coming out speaking out against the sexism that occurs in and out of conventions.

 

Magazine Layout:file:///Users/crockera/Desktop/Masters/Semester%202/7004%20MAPA/Sexism%20in%20the%20cosplaying%20comm/sexism%20in%20the%20cosplaying%20community.pdf