Meredith Placko over at Geeks Are Sexy wrote an eye-opener of a post about cosplayers (not just female cosplayers, mind you) who have to endure lewd and inappropriate behavior because of the costumes they wear:
Costumes are not consent. It’s a phrase you may be hearing a lot lately, and one we need to keep talking about. In the past few weeks, the internet has exploded with women speaking up about the treatment we receive at conventions and online. This isn’t a new problem that has suddenly presented itself. The issues have always been there. What is happening now is we finally feel we are allowed to speak up, that doing so will not result in us being ostracized from our community – because we are now acting as a community, a support structure, to create a safe environment for all costumers and convention goers.
A few weeks ago at PAX East an incident happened that would open the door for many costumers to come out and speak up. Meagan Marie, known for her amazing costumes as well as her presence within the gaming industry, encountered a situation that opened up many eyes to the way women are treated at conventions. During a press event, featuring several Lara Croft costumers, a journalist began asking some lewd questions of the ladies. When called out for his actions, he put the onus on the girls; saying that because they were dressed sexy, they were obviously okay with such questions being asked.
Read more about it over at Geeks Are Sexy, including what you can do to combat the growing problem: Link - Thanks Yan!
Whenever anyone dresses up in costume, they are doing it for some sort of attention, whether it's for the sake of a few friends, or an anonymous crowd. I don't think anyone said the sole reason for women to dress that way is for sexual attention, but you can't tell me that none do. Men do it, too. I knew a man who dressed up as a woman for attention, both sexual and non-sexual. There's variety for you.
Maybe the question to ask is "Why are your heroines scantily-clad women?"
Why is "sexy nurse" a more popular costume choice than "nurse" at Halloween?
When men dress up at Comic Con, no one says they're trying to get attention from women, they're just dressing up as a character they like. But no, if a women does it, her only motivation could only possibly to turn men on.
Either you're a troll or totally ignorant and either way, there is no point in arguing with you further about your pathetically sexist views.
And it seems to me MM is WILDLY over-reacting where many more mature women like Heidi Klum or Mila Kunis would have been funny, slick and just deflected/defused.
The whole thing reeks of her 1)trying to set herself as the Alpha Female of the Lara Group, 2)being offended an omega-male would skip them and dare talk to her, 3)not getting the joke, 4)both people getting their backs-up over a misunderstanding, 5)her getting him kicked out over it, and then 6)because that's not enough for her little princess ego, MM using it to throw a toxic-waif-narcissist hissy-fit on the internet.
I have the sneaking suspicion that she's out there Trolling Both the Women Feminazis and the White-Knight Men in an effort to gain some amount of Narcissistic Supply for herself.
Check out the definition and see for yourself: http://therawness.com/raw-concepts-narcissistic-supply/
PS: Scantily-clad character-dressed women trolling airportfuls of otherwise good, but sexless omega-male comic book nerds for insecurity-crutch approval-bump is about as low-market-value a woman can go; short of a hick-town strip club. I mean, that's not even night-clubbing it among equals or hotties. It's Bottom-Fishing. What's the M/F ratio there, 200:1?
-And then this brat throws a hissy when one guy finally predictably Does act badly. -SET-UP!
She's got to start hanging out with more strippers and Playmates to see just how tame her experiences have Actually been.
She'd probably just whine about them regardless, being a Special Snowflake Princess and all.
Is it ironic that the original article was posted at "Geeks are Sexy"?
Cosplay is a fantasy, where you can be whoever you want to be, even if you don't quite fit into the costume.
Saying, "They can't help it if their favourite characters dress like that" is like saying they're forced to dress sexy, as if someone twisted their arm to slide into the bodice / spandex / thong. Let's be honest: it's fun to dress up and to dress sexy.
How naïve would you be to think that you wouldn't stand out in a crowd? Of course cosplayers are seeking attention - that's part of the fun.
I don't think anybody commenting actually thinks that it's okay to grope and mistreat anyone. I think it's more of a "what did you expect would happen?" attitude.
When you objectify yourself, you are bound to be treated as an object. Yes, you may still be treated as an object wearing baggy pants, but the odds are much more in your favour.