I love fashion. We post about it on The Mary Sue often. But in a climate of “fake geek girl” accusations, I take issue with someone in the industry saying women got into geek culture for the “fashion sense.”
In a piece which has since been removed from the website, Diamond Comics’ Previews World Editor Vince Brusio wrote about the women of San Diego Comic-Con. My friend, and comic shop manager, Heather McFarlane brought it to my attention for some unfortunate content included. Here’s a screenshot (and a link to the cache version):
[Edit: The cache version also includes the sentence, “No longer do we have to ask ourselves ‘how do we get women into comics?’ The ladies answered that questions themselves.” after the “am very greatful” line.]
Following the article were several pictures of women cosplaying. Praising the skill and craft of cosplayers is awesome! Saying fashion is why they got into geek culture? Not so much. Stereotypes aren’t good for anyone.
Speaking from her personal Twitter, McFarlane took specific issue from this article’s source.
Hey @VinceBrusio, I manage a comic shop & my other two employees are women. Guess how many of us are here for the “fashion sense.”
— Heather McFarFarAway (@BaronessHeather) July 29, 2014
That’s such a slap in the face to me, my employees, my customers – to say nothing of all the stellar industry pros who create the comics.
— Heather McFarFarAway (@BaronessHeather) July 29, 2014
If you’re a female member of “geek culture” who’s not in it “for the fashion sense,” I urge you to tell @DCD_Nexus they owe you an apology.
— Heather McFarFarAway (@BaronessHeather) July 29, 2014
And The Valkyries, an organize group of women who work in comic shops, had this to say:
The Valkyries are not here to cuss anybody out, but try and guess how some of us feel about this http://t.co/taLYNd56mk
— The Valkyries (@LCSValkyries) July 29, 2014
Here’s to celebrating women who got into geek culture because we love it, despite often being ignored by, say, our only distributor
— The Valkyries (@LCSValkyries) July 29, 2014
[UPDATE] Andy Mueller, Consumer Marketing Manager for Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. replied to our statement request today (July 30) reiterating that the article had been removed from their website and pointing me to two statements made via twitter:
Apologies on our PREVIEWSworld article. It wasn’t an appropriate way to showcase cosplay at SDCC. Expect a more positive focus in the future
— PREVIEWSworld (@PREVIEWSworld) July 30, 2014
Apologies on our PREVIEWSworld article. It wasn’t an appropriate way to showcase cosplay at SDCC. Expect a more positive focus in the future
— Diamond Comics (@DCD_Nexus) July 30, 2014
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