reader CONTRIBUTION
when cosplay is too sexual ?
by Bec from Costume Collection [ costumecollection . com . au ]
This month we received an article from Bec from Costume Collection - ( you can see more here : www . costumecollection . com . au ) It asks the question of what to do when Cosplay is too sexual . Here ’ s what she had to say ...
“ Cosplay is an abbreviation of ‘ costume play ’. It is a hobby whereby people dress up as fictional characters , especially those from manga , animation or computer games ,” says Melinda Tankard Reist , writer and advocate for women and girls . Dressing up , whether it ’ s for a party or just to look nice when you go out , is a fundamentally human thing to do and I daresay countless anthropologists have devoted their PhDs to uncovering the deep spiritual need that binds all the earth ’ s people . While Melinda does explain what cosplay is , it is only the tip of the iceberg . At its core , cosplay is a combination of social fun and self-expression , literally wearing your fandoms for all the community to see . For some it is a form of escape and liberation , wearing something you would dare not wear in your daily life . But at a convention you can be the character you have always wanted to be .
Another thing that is as old as Gandalf is sexism , and the cosplay community is not immune . The community ’ s reliance on social media and that lifegiving nectar that is the internet only amplifies the issues to a global scale giving cosplayers no safe haven from unwanted attention . Melinda Tankard Reist says “ there is nothing inherently wrong with dressing up as one ’ s favourite character . But because of the sexualised way that women are depicted in many of the manga , anime and games that cosplayers emulate , it can have negative impacts on women .”
Just because you ’ re wearing an attention-grabbing outfit doesn ’ t mean you want it ( and , inherently , yourself ) sexualised . At best it is uncomfortable , and at worst it can make for a very dangerous situation .
Cosplayers , no matter their gender , should be able to enjoy a convention without worrying about lecherous congoers . Australian Cosplayer and judge of Jakarta ’ s 2016 Toys & Comics Fair , Kiara Kirameki , is no stranger to receiving sexual harassment . Most harassment is from people calling out of their cars or passing by on the street , people who don ’ t know or understand what cosplay is . Let ’ s not forget that the internet , as amazing as it is , allows people to harass cosplayers from the safety of their computer chairs at home . However , while at the convention , the security staff are there to protect all attendees and ensure that no one , no matter how they are dressed , are harassed in any way .
“ It doesn ’ t fly in conventions , the Con ’ s will actually protect you which is good . So , if you have a problem with someone you can go up to security and they will help you .”
Popular conventions in Australia such as SupaNova , OzComicCon have very strict anti-harassment policies where stepping even a toe out of line can lead to people being kicked out of the event . Dracula ’ s Operations Manager , Luke Newman , says that they have a zero tolerance policy towards sexual harassment , “ sometimes , customers can get a little too ‘ into the atmosphere ’, and say or act inappropriately towards staff members . It ’ s rare , but when it does happen , our staff are trained to drop character and address the issue . We want to foster an environment where our customers and staff feel safe to enjoy themselves .” - Jessica Nigri , Kida , Atlantis
Sexiness as costuming isn ’ t an unspoken aspect of the community and it certainly has been tapped into , for better or for worse . Popular cosplayer , Jessica Nigri , is well known for her sexy adaptations of popular characters , most notably her sexy pikachu and has received mixed comments . While some people see her creative approach to characters and making them sexy as the opening of new doors , some people see it as attention-seeking and demeaning .