In November 2012, Tony Harris, renowned comic book artist and five-time nominee for the prestigious Eisner Award, took to his public Facebook page to vocalize his vitriolic opinions regarding the combination of women, costumes, and comic book conventions. In short, his words, not worth republishing or repeating, accused women in these circles of being vapid, self-absorbed, attention-seeking trollops who knew very little about the characters they were portraying, and in doing so, were simply acting as eye candy for patrons—glossy, unattainable dolls strutting around in skimpy costumes for little reason other than to titillate.
It goes without saying that Harris’ words drew a tremendous amount of backlash, his statements being picked up by angry independent bloggers and larger media outlets alike. Though his outspoken nature regarding the issue raised many eyebrows and earned Harris a virtual tongue-lashing, he was not without his supporters. In fact, it seemed a massive amount of convention-goers actually believed Harris’ statements to be completely merited and entirely factual. What is even more troubling, however, is that this attitude regarding women in comic book culture is more prevalent than ever, and has insidiously crept into every corner of the subculture, culminating in an issue that’s plaguing females throughout the scene.
When mainstream media outlets broadcast the highlights of major comic book conventions, such as San Diego Comic Con, Wondercon, and Comikaze, they highlight the eye-catching, well-worked costumes, glossy front-page celebrities, and star-studded panels and screenings of newly released movies and television shows. What they rarely, if ever, bring to light are the slightly more problematic elements of cons, particularly the incessant harassment that female guests suffer through each year. While women have always found difficulty in assimilating into what is considered a male-oriented genre, the prevalence of sexual harassment and unwarranted comments from other convention-goers has made walking the convention floor, which is seemingly a fun, engaging experience, a frightening hassle for many women.
A few years ago, cosplayer Mindy Caruso, a guest at New York Comic Con, donned an expertly designed replica costume a la Marvel Comics superheroine Black Cat. She was approached by a camera crew, fronted by a man who claimed to want to interview her for his web series, a practice that is not out of the ordinary at conventions. After she agreed, however, the men began to ask lewd questions, make suggestive comments, and objectify Caruso, who was so infuriated that she stormed from the filming, according to reports by Jezebel and the Mary Sue.
Caruso is certainly not alone. Sexual harassment, typically in the form of unwarranted comments, groping, stalking, and non-consensual photography, is an ever-constant presence at conventions, making women dread even stepping on the floor, despite the effort they have poured into their painstakingly-crafted costumes. Many commenters responded with arguments that the costumes that female guests typically don—such as Caruso’s low-cut, fur-trimmed ebony cat suit, cut tight to the skin—are purposely provocative, made specifically with the intent of drawing sexual attention.
In response, three women from Philadelphia formed a coalition called Geeks for CONsent, which asserted that a woman should be free from verbal and physical sexual harassment regardless of how risqué some may deem her attire. They began a website where women could share their stories of harassment and made printable cards that women could dole out to unwittingly inappropriate convention goers. Ultimately, they provided a voice for women that they felt was previously missing from the comic convention scene, allowing convention-goers to brainstorm new methods of preventing and punishing those who violated the zone of respect and mutual interest that conventions are meant to establish.
There is a seemingly bright future amidst all this darkness, however. Recently New York Comic Con released a redesigned set of standards regarding behavior toward other guests. In their new harassment policy, the convention states that, unequivocally, cosplay is not consent, and that sexual harassment or discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated. While many fear that this new write-up is merely an attempt at clearing the bad publicity generated from years of convention harassment mishaps and mishandlings, the policy seems to be one that aims at reestablishing the safe, community spirit that is the foundation of every comic book and entertainment convention. New York Comic Con also launched a feature on their event app, where convention guests can report acts of harassment and summon security immediately, providing a sort of warm, protective collective where guests can monitor each other’s safety and intervene if a situation seems uncomfortable or threatening.
While there is a long road ahead for those who fight against inequality and harassment within the convention circuit, these recent policy updates and vocal activism movements have dissolved the stigma against discussing sexual harassment and allowed for open discourse, making the possibility of change seem quite promising. Breaking down gender barriers and discriminatory practices will not be easy. However, it is a battle worth fighting. It’s like Spiderman’s own Uncle Ben once said, “With great power, comes great responsibility.” The power is in our hands now, and the responsibility is all our own.