Learn from Others: Being a Woman Cosplayer
In this episode, Cocona ( / _coconats_ ) and I talk about what it's like for her as a woman who cosplays. Some questions we attempted to answer:
What do your non-cosplayer friends/family misunderstand?
What’s not obvious to them about your cosplays?
Challenges in being a woman cosplayer?
What do you wish men* know about what it’s like for you as a woman cosplayer?
Almost immediately we discussed concerns about stalkers/creepers and what "consent" means, among other things - definitely an eye-opening episode for me (I mean, I knew things gets bad sometimes but I didn't know how bad it gets...).
Post-recording, Cocona shared this thought with me: "A lot of people in cosplay have had a lot of social trauma and have difficulties with feeling unwanted or not belonging - this makes it difficult to make friends. Cosplay is a way to have a layer of protection/shield/persona to have social interactions with other people with similar interests. You see someone else cosplaying in the same series with you and you want to go and be friends with them!"
This episode is primarily intended for anyone who are interested in knowing more about being a woman cosplayer - or about cosplaying in general.