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I'm Not Your Waifu: Sexual Harassment and Assault in Cosplay, Anime (&) Comic Conventions

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Date Issued:
2018
Abstract/Description:
Women face sexual harassment and sexual assault far too often with one in every six women sexually assaulted during their life (Tjaden (&) Thoennes, 1998). In the anime and comic community, women face sexual assault and harassment, often in open public spaces, due to these spaces being labeled as men's (Cote, 2015; Fox (&) Potocki 2015; Rodriguez 2015; Schott (&) Horrell 2000). Policies such as Cosplay is not Consent (Facebook, 2018) are not upheld or enforced by anime and comic conventions. Policies that are enforced, have clear and concise wording, and are enforced by staff and volunteers, who have been educated or trained to deal with sexual assault and harassment, may likely promote safer sexual assault and sexual harassment free anime and comic conventions. A total of 27 participants (20 women, 6 men, and 1 non-binary) were recruited via a snowball technique through Facebook social media groups. Participants were interviewed in-depth either face-to-face or through written interviews. The results showed that: (1) cosplay is a form of embodiment it does not negate the person's identity or bodily autonomy while wearing the cosplay; (2) women are generally the targets of sexual assault and harassment; (3) policies are often not enforced or enforced well due to lack of clear policies or consequences; (4) staff and volunteers are not educated, trained or equipped to deal with sexual assault and harassment; and 5) anime and comic convention organizers need to be responsible for helping to create safer environments for their attendees, staff, and volunteers.
Title: I'm Not Your Waifu: Sexual Harassment and Assault in Cosplay, Anime (&) Comic Conventions.
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Name(s): Ellsworth, Alexandria, Author
Huff-Corzine, Lin, Committee Chair
Anthony, Amanda, Committee CoChair
Reckdenwald, Amy, Committee Member
University of Central Florida, Degree Grantor
Type of Resource: text
Date Issued: 2018
Publisher: University of Central Florida
Language(s): English
Abstract/Description: Women face sexual harassment and sexual assault far too often with one in every six women sexually assaulted during their life (Tjaden (&) Thoennes, 1998). In the anime and comic community, women face sexual assault and harassment, often in open public spaces, due to these spaces being labeled as men's (Cote, 2015; Fox (&) Potocki 2015; Rodriguez 2015; Schott (&) Horrell 2000). Policies such as Cosplay is not Consent (Facebook, 2018) are not upheld or enforced by anime and comic conventions. Policies that are enforced, have clear and concise wording, and are enforced by staff and volunteers, who have been educated or trained to deal with sexual assault and harassment, may likely promote safer sexual assault and sexual harassment free anime and comic conventions. A total of 27 participants (20 women, 6 men, and 1 non-binary) were recruited via a snowball technique through Facebook social media groups. Participants were interviewed in-depth either face-to-face or through written interviews. The results showed that: (1) cosplay is a form of embodiment it does not negate the person's identity or bodily autonomy while wearing the cosplay; (2) women are generally the targets of sexual assault and harassment; (3) policies are often not enforced or enforced well due to lack of clear policies or consequences; (4) staff and volunteers are not educated, trained or equipped to deal with sexual assault and harassment; and 5) anime and comic convention organizers need to be responsible for helping to create safer environments for their attendees, staff, and volunteers.
Identifier: CFE0007175 (IID), ucf:52281 (fedora)
Note(s): 2018-08-01
M.A.
Sciences, Sociology
Masters
This record was generated from author submitted information.
Subject(s): Sexual Assault -- Harassment -- Cosplay -- Anime -- Comics -- Identity -- Policies -- Gender -- Power -- Social Institutions
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007175
Restrictions on Access: public 2018-08-15
Host Institution: UCF

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