By 
Years before the #MeToo and the #TimesUp movements made headlines was the #CosplayIsNotConsent call to action.
Cosplay, a central part of comic and anime conventions across the world have been fighting sexual harassment and leading a movement to teach the world about consent.
The increasing popularity of Marvel, DC, and other comic franchises has helped draw hundreds of thousands of fans to comic conventions across the nation, with major conventions taking place annually in cities like New York and San Diego.
Part of the appeal of attending these conventions is the cosplay, short for costume-play. Fans are encouraged to dress up as their favorite fictional characters, such as Wonder Woman or Poison Ivy, and some fans have taken it to the next level by becoming professional cosplayers.
While cosplay continues to be a huge crowd draw for business, it has also, for many years, raised issues regarding the handling of sexual harassment complaints. Female, and some male, cosplayers have loudly complained and often protested against the sexual harassment they’ve faced while at conventions. Examples of complaints include unwanted touching, crude remarks, stalking, and intimidation.
One explanation for why this sexual harassment is pervasive at cons is that harassers, often men, are not separating the human behind the cosplay from the fictional character they’re dressing like. When they are making creepy advances, they’re not thinking about the woman behind the costume and her feelings.
Prior to reforms, cosplayers had to police themselves. Friends or concerned passers by would often come to the defense of victims and report harassers to security in order to get them ejected. Problems, however, persisted and often times became worse due to overcrowding in popular areas.
“Cosplay is not consent,” started circulating the conventions more than five years ago. Cosplayers and fans continued to protest and pressure convention organizers to address the sexual harassment issues. As a result the Comic-Con in New York and San Diego have been leading examples for convention organizers all over the world for how to respond to sexual harassment complaints.
How did they become leaders? These conventions started by changing their policies to have zero tolerance for any form of sexual harassment or intimidation. Next, they implemented app programs that allow guests to immediately notify security if they’re dealing with harassment. Security can use gps to quickly find the location of the complaint and more effectively deal with the harasser. Conventions also began holding their own panels centered around the topic “Cosplay Is Not Consent” to further educate con-goers.
While, conventions still have a long way to go when it comes to dealing with sexual harassment and protecting their guests, the cosplay community is teaching the world about consent, conventions are listening, and it’s a step in the right direction.
Comments