In a provocative post this morning, Dark Angel of theanimecon.com mused about the nascent "Cosplay is not Consent" movement. Could it be that there were two sides of every story, and that this had gone too far in some cases?
This post masterfully demonstrates that the answer is "no." The author nobly offers himself up as a demonstration of the fact that people pushing back against rape culture really aren't simply arguing with a strawman, and that many people really do believe these things.
As the author says, the arguments against "Cosplay is not Consent" are real ones. They just happen to be completely wrong, and very harmful.
Celeste at Imitating Parrots has already written up her own wonderful response, but I wanted to take my own shot at this.
1. "The argument assumes that all guys approaching cosplayers are perverts."
As far as the author is concerned, we are far too complacent about the danger of innocent otaku being consigned to the terrible fate of being labeled as a creep. When a cosplayer is made uncomfortable, they're being told to give the person the benefit of the doubt in any event. "Don't trust your instincts."
This message is toxic. Put simply, these are cases where your intent doesn't matter that much -- if it makes the cosplayer uncomfortable, it should stop, and it should be dealt with as appropriate. It is completely and utterly wrong to promote a message of sexual harassment being over-reported and a figment of peoples' imagination. The consequences of being accused of sexual harassment are minimal compared to the consequences of being harassed.
2. "Not everyone can articulate social settings as well as those who don’t have to try."
This is bullshit, and it's bullshit on multiple levels. Again, we see the author privileging the situation of the harasser over that of the cosplayer, a theme that is constantly returned to.
a.) People can and use "socially awkward" to avoid the consequences of their behavior. In many cases, they know what they're doing. Creepshotters aren't taking those photographs because they don't know differently.
b.) In these situations, intent simply doesn't make much of a difference. It could be that someone had the noblest of intentions, but still comes off as creepy. In that case, the correct answer isn't to point to your intentions as proof of your innocence, but to stop the harassing behavior.
c.) If your handle on social situations is such that you inevitably end up making those around you feel uncomfortable and creeped on, then you should not put yourself in those situations. You don't have an absolute right to obliviousness to the feelings of others. The correct solution is to work on those social skills.
If a person really is socially awkward and unused to situations like these, then the very best thing we can do is set clear guidelines for acceptable behavior, and make sure they're vigorously enforced. If we don't call people out when they're acting inappropriately, how would they learn that it's inappropriate?
3. "However, when a really famous, and possibly attractive, cosplayer wears a costume that’s meant to draw a reaction, they know what they’re getting into, or they should.
This is a direct quote. The author really is stating, without reservation, that if you get harassed while wearing a certain kind of outfit, it is your fault. We are quite literally in the realm of straight up victim blaming.
If I leer at a person, then it's an exercise of my agency. It doesn't matter what they're wearing, or what they're doing. This behavior is my fault, and should not be tolerated, at cons or elsewhere. To be blunt, if I'm unable to go near a cosplayer without "gawking and drooling", then I shouldn't be going to conventions. Their right to not be creeped on overrides my right to stare.
4. "instead we’re running around with a whiteboard and DEMANDING respect; all this hubbub and not one partly concession"
There's no way to put this other than "will nobody think of the harassers?" Cosplayers are demanding that their boundaries and limits are respected because they are entitled to that. This argument seems to assume that people somehow have to earn the right not to be touched inappropriately, and that they shouldn't be so impolite about it.
What kind of concession would possibly be correct? Designated creepshot zones? "If your costume exposes this much skin, you don't get to complain?"
5. " It’s on everyone’s radar if you dress up, or know someone who does."
This argument seems to be simply that if you don't live up to the author's opinions on how much action should be taken, you aren't entitled to complain. I fully encourage taking action against cosplay creeping, and this includes building awareness by holding a whiteboard.
However, you don't need to earn the right to speak out against this behavior. One of the most toxic aspects of geek culture is the idea that only certain people should be allowed to criticize the culture. How likely is someone going to be interested in participating in this culture if they're being creeped on? Everyone and anyone has the perfect right to speak out against this.
"I’m more than willing to get my hands dirty and help fix this, but if you feel the same way, you can’t just scapegoat the easiest target." (Ironically, this is after an article that scapegoats the cosplayers.)
No. The problem isn't that complicated. People creep on cosplayers at conventions. They are to blame for their own behavior. They need to stop.
"this is one issue in which we need to stand together."
One point that the author returns to a few times is the idea that "Cosplay is not Consent" is divisive. I'm all for standing together as a culture to combat this, but here's the thing -- there's a right and wrong side to this issue. If this issue divides us into people that thing creeping on cosplayers is acceptable, and a side that thinks it isn't, so be it. Not everyone will be convinced, and we shouldn't let holdouts prevent people from taking action.
The author brings up harassment directed at male cosplayers specifically. The author is absolutely right that this is inappropriate too, makes people uncomfortable, and should stop. Luckily, I know of a movement dedicated to changing policies to ensure just that. It's the "Cosplay is not Consent" movement.
One last quote --
"If you wear scandalous outfits you wouldn’t wear in public and complain because you get catcalls, or walk around with nothing but cleavage (even if it’s a prop) and get upset that non-cosplayers have no sense of bubble, awe, respect, or boundary because skin grabs attention and illicits a very specific reaction, or gripe about having to share space that you feel entitled to cosplay in despite the fact that your onlookers paid the exact amount of financial guarantee to enjoy the exact same space, or get pissed because you feel objectified because you’re being photographed wearing a perfect (or custom) version of some teenage boy’s cartoon fantasy, you don’t get to complain. Not once."
The author gives away the game here. They are stating, in their own words, that cosplay is consent. If you are wearing something someone fantasizes about, they have a right to ogle you, and you have no right to complain. All this talk of divisiveness? They just don't want to be called out on their bullshit. Non-cosplayers can't help themselves once the get a glimpse of this lascivious display of skin. The message is clear -- when you dress up, it's all about US.
This post masterfully demonstrates that the answer is "no." The author nobly offers himself up as a demonstration of the fact that people pushing back against rape culture really aren't simply arguing with a strawman, and that many people really do believe these things.
As the author says, the arguments against "Cosplay is not Consent" are real ones. They just happen to be completely wrong, and very harmful.
Celeste at Imitating Parrots has already written up her own wonderful response, but I wanted to take my own shot at this.
1. "The argument assumes that all guys approaching cosplayers are perverts."
As far as the author is concerned, we are far too complacent about the danger of innocent otaku being consigned to the terrible fate of being labeled as a creep. When a cosplayer is made uncomfortable, they're being told to give the person the benefit of the doubt in any event. "Don't trust your instincts."
This message is toxic. Put simply, these are cases where your intent doesn't matter that much -- if it makes the cosplayer uncomfortable, it should stop, and it should be dealt with as appropriate. It is completely and utterly wrong to promote a message of sexual harassment being over-reported and a figment of peoples' imagination. The consequences of being accused of sexual harassment are minimal compared to the consequences of being harassed.
2. "Not everyone can articulate social settings as well as those who don’t have to try."
This is bullshit, and it's bullshit on multiple levels. Again, we see the author privileging the situation of the harasser over that of the cosplayer, a theme that is constantly returned to.
a.) People can and use "socially awkward" to avoid the consequences of their behavior. In many cases, they know what they're doing. Creepshotters aren't taking those photographs because they don't know differently.
b.) In these situations, intent simply doesn't make much of a difference. It could be that someone had the noblest of intentions, but still comes off as creepy. In that case, the correct answer isn't to point to your intentions as proof of your innocence, but to stop the harassing behavior.
c.) If your handle on social situations is such that you inevitably end up making those around you feel uncomfortable and creeped on, then you should not put yourself in those situations. You don't have an absolute right to obliviousness to the feelings of others. The correct solution is to work on those social skills.
If a person really is socially awkward and unused to situations like these, then the very best thing we can do is set clear guidelines for acceptable behavior, and make sure they're vigorously enforced. If we don't call people out when they're acting inappropriately, how would they learn that it's inappropriate?
3. "However, when a really famous, and possibly attractive, cosplayer wears a costume that’s meant to draw a reaction, they know what they’re getting into, or they should.
This is a direct quote. The author really is stating, without reservation, that if you get harassed while wearing a certain kind of outfit, it is your fault. We are quite literally in the realm of straight up victim blaming.
If I leer at a person, then it's an exercise of my agency. It doesn't matter what they're wearing, or what they're doing. This behavior is my fault, and should not be tolerated, at cons or elsewhere. To be blunt, if I'm unable to go near a cosplayer without "gawking and drooling", then I shouldn't be going to conventions. Their right to not be creeped on overrides my right to stare.
4. "instead we’re running around with a whiteboard and DEMANDING respect; all this hubbub and not one partly concession"
There's no way to put this other than "will nobody think of the harassers?" Cosplayers are demanding that their boundaries and limits are respected because they are entitled to that. This argument seems to assume that people somehow have to earn the right not to be touched inappropriately, and that they shouldn't be so impolite about it.
What kind of concession would possibly be correct? Designated creepshot zones? "If your costume exposes this much skin, you don't get to complain?"
5. " It’s on everyone’s radar if you dress up, or know someone who does."
This argument seems to be simply that if you don't live up to the author's opinions on how much action should be taken, you aren't entitled to complain. I fully encourage taking action against cosplay creeping, and this includes building awareness by holding a whiteboard.
However, you don't need to earn the right to speak out against this behavior. One of the most toxic aspects of geek culture is the idea that only certain people should be allowed to criticize the culture. How likely is someone going to be interested in participating in this culture if they're being creeped on? Everyone and anyone has the perfect right to speak out against this.
"I’m more than willing to get my hands dirty and help fix this, but if you feel the same way, you can’t just scapegoat the easiest target." (Ironically, this is after an article that scapegoats the cosplayers.)
No. The problem isn't that complicated. People creep on cosplayers at conventions. They are to blame for their own behavior. They need to stop.
"this is one issue in which we need to stand together."
One point that the author returns to a few times is the idea that "Cosplay is not Consent" is divisive. I'm all for standing together as a culture to combat this, but here's the thing -- there's a right and wrong side to this issue. If this issue divides us into people that thing creeping on cosplayers is acceptable, and a side that thinks it isn't, so be it. Not everyone will be convinced, and we shouldn't let holdouts prevent people from taking action.
The author brings up harassment directed at male cosplayers specifically. The author is absolutely right that this is inappropriate too, makes people uncomfortable, and should stop. Luckily, I know of a movement dedicated to changing policies to ensure just that. It's the "Cosplay is not Consent" movement.
One last quote --
"If you wear scandalous outfits you wouldn’t wear in public and complain because you get catcalls, or walk around with nothing but cleavage (even if it’s a prop) and get upset that non-cosplayers have no sense of bubble, awe, respect, or boundary because skin grabs attention and illicits a very specific reaction, or gripe about having to share space that you feel entitled to cosplay in despite the fact that your onlookers paid the exact amount of financial guarantee to enjoy the exact same space, or get pissed because you feel objectified because you’re being photographed wearing a perfect (or custom) version of some teenage boy’s cartoon fantasy, you don’t get to complain. Not once."
The author gives away the game here. They are stating, in their own words, that cosplay is consent. If you are wearing something someone fantasizes about, they have a right to ogle you, and you have no right to complain. All this talk of divisiveness? They just don't want to be called out on their bullshit. Non-cosplayers can't help themselves once the get a glimpse of this lascivious display of skin. The message is clear -- when you dress up, it's all about US.
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