Journalist “Slut and Body Shames” Cosplayers at Comic Con Africa

Knowing that the majority of my readers are not South African, I thought I’d bring to your attention a controversial article that has been making the rounds in the South African geek community as of late.

Excelsior!: The Impact of Free Comic Book Day on the Geek Community

If you were walking around the streets of Claremont on 2 May 2015, you may have seen Batman or Spiderman walk right past you. Were your eyes deceiving you? No, they were not. Chances are, they were on their way to attend Free Comic Book Day at Stadium on Main; sometimes referred to as Cape Town’s own Comic Con. Hosted by Cape Town’s local comic book store, Readers Den, the event has attracted many faces over the years, young and old alike.

“Cosplay is Not Consent”: The Dark Reality of Sexual Abuse Against Cosplayers

A New York Comic Con
sign in 2014 warning attendees not to sexually harass cosplayers [Image via Trans Girl Writer]

According to a 2014 study by Janelle Asselin, 59% of comic book fans felt that sexual harassment at conventions is a problem that must be dealt with. Sexual abuse is mostly aimed at female cosplayers and shockingly only 8% reported that they were sexually abused physically. Other results showed that 13% reported sexual comments made towards them at conventions and on social media. While these results apply to American comic book conventions specifically, people should not turn a blind eye to sexual abuse happening in their own community. Although the South African cosplay community is smaller than the American community, sexual abuse against cosplayers is still a reality.