Cosplay is not consent

Header image for Interrobang article CREDIT: COSTUME: LOSSIEN, PHOTOGRAPHER: SUSPENCE COSPLAY
Amaleigh is cosplaying Supergirl from DC comics.

With the rise in geek culture cosplaying has become extremely popular, especially at comic book conventions.

Cosplay, short for costume play, is to dress up as a character from a movie, book, video game, anime or more. It is a creative way to show your passion for something you love.

Cosplayers spend hours creating their costumes to look like their favourite characters and comic book conventions are a great place for them to show off their hard work.

An unfortunate reality for many cosplayers is sexual harassment. Just because someone is cosplaying a character you love does not give you the right to touch them, take a photo or any other action without their consent, but that does not stop people from trying.

Cosplayer Amaleigh has experienced sexual harassment at conventions multiple times, but one experience at AnimeNorth stuck out in her memory as one of the worst.

“My friends and I did a dream cosplay, the Sailor Scouts from Sailor Moon,” Amaleigh said. “In the three hours we wore them, we had our backsides grabbed, our skirts flipped and had people trying to take up-skirt photos no less than 10 times.”

Amaleigh said she did not report the sexual harassment at the time, but she later voiced her concerns online. One of the security guards reached out to her to make sure she was okay and urged her to tell a staff member the next time something like this happens.

This unacceptable behaviour has led to a movement in the cosplay world called, “Cosplay is not Consent”. Geeks for CONsent promotes the idea that comic book conventions should be a “safe place for geeks to be their geekiest” and that wearing a costume does not mean someone is asking to be harassed.

Amaleigh said the Cosplay is not Consent movement is a step in the right direction for all cosplayers.

“It’s a wonderful, fantastic movement in my opinion. Overall I believe things are on their way to getting better.”

London will be hosting two comic conventions this fall. The London Comic Con will be running the weekend of Sept. 25, and the Forest City Comicon will be on Oct. 18.

Organizers of the London Comic Con said they take the matter of sexual harassment very seriously and will have signs throughout the convention that state “Cosplay does not equal consent.”

“Harassment of any kind will not be tolerated so anyone who is seen taking the fun out of the con will be asked to leave,” said an organizer.

The Forest City Comicon has a policy against cosplay harassment that follows builds on Cosplay is not Consent to make sure everyone has a good time.

“We don’t want anyone interfering with anyone enjoying the event,” said John Houghton, an organizer of the Forest City Comicon. “Anyone who is found to be violating this policy will have their admission revoked.”

Cosplayers put a lot of time and effort into their costumes and enjoy seeing their hard work appreciated, but that does not mean they have consented to any harassing behaviours.

Conventions are slowly adding anti-sexual harassment policies to their guidelines, but the best way to stop sexual harassment at conventions or anywhere else is to not be a bystander and call out any inappropriate behaviour when it happens.