Being Geek Chic is a blog about one woman navigating the male-dominated industries of production and tech. It's written by Elizabeth Giorgi, Founder, CEO and Director of Mighteor - one of the world's first internet video production companies. Learn more about Mighteor here.
Who are you supposed to be?
I’m Captain America.
I beg your pardon?
It’s a great line out of a classic movie, but I often find myself wondering the same thing when I’m trying to figure out exactly what is supposed to be represented in superhero cosplay for young girls. I’m always thrilled to see that younger female viewers have taken an interest (and been encouraged to do so!) in something that’s not solely princess-themed, or pink, or some stereotyped combination of the two, but when it comes to portrayal and merchandise availability for girl’s products, the inclusivity sort of ends at blankets and Trapper Keepers.
If you find yourself searching stores for superhero-themed swag for your daughter rather than busting the old sewing machine to make your own, you might be stuck with something a bit more feminized than you bargained for.
Not that there’s anything specifically wrong with that if your daughter is looking to save the world while indulging her pre-established womanly side, but the lack of neutral options certainly encourages taking matters into your own hands to create something more fitting. Offering male character-based products for girls at all is a huge step in the right direction, but I think it’s safe to ask what kind of message is being sent to young girls who are exposed to images with such a strong distinction.
Does it require bulge-inducing tights to kick-ass in the world today? I doubt it, but it certainly doesn’t require a skirt, either. Since when do young boys want strong muscles and pants more than young girls do?
I seem to remember a little me, begging her mom for karate classes so that I could be the next Karate Kid (Miyagi era, not Han), so I’m wondering when it was decided that superheroes needed to be feminized to become more accessible to the young girl audience. No doubt there are consumer tests that prove that certain kids prefer the “girlified” products, but it’s not an all-inclusive metric, and it’s a perpetuation of a deeply historic norm that leaves out a number of girls who prefer it the original way.
Children are impressionable; it seems like at some point we either forgot, or stopped caring that their minds are thirsty little sponges, waiting to soak up any and all images and ideas they are exposed to in a day. And while there are a number of steps a parent can take in theory to protect their kids from the demon formally known as negative body image, it’s hard to keep them from hearing a gendered message when it’s so obviously laid out in front of them in the grossly oversized muscles reserved for boys, and the glitters and frills implied for girls.
There’s untapped value waiting to be found in the grey area that lies between the two polar norms of boy versus girl; a neutral haven that questions the constant push for gender distinction at a young age, keeping us deeply rooted in a divided society that hinders a true personal identity.
So I say, “you go girl!” to the pioneers out there donning the male identities despite the label; be the superhero you want to be! I’m going to go dust off that yellow belt in the back of my closet and remember what I wanted to fight for.
Photo Credit: Costume Express
Post by Lydia Mondy is a feminist killjoy from the Northwest who enjoys writing about the experiences of women in nerd culture. Reddit users beware.You can follow her on Twitter @lydiamondy.
Mindy Tomlin is a cosplay rockstar who puts her stitch where her mouth is. You can find her blogging about her latest creations of needle and thread over at The Geeky Seamstress. She’s resourceful, spunky, and she loves, loves, loves her wigs. Want a play-by-play? Follow Tomlin on Instagram.
Some of our favorite costumes include her sassy rendition of Rogue, her pin-up girl Bombshell Wonder Woman, and her quirky-cute Pokemon Trainer Serena getup. Inspired yet?
Dive in to Tomlin’s interview with Being Geek Chic to discover which fictional character she’d share a drink with, the catalyst for discovering her passion, and how she infuses geek chic style into her everyday wardrobe.
Q: How did you discover your passion for sewing your own cosplay costumes?
A: I discovered cosplay through some friends at a previous job. They invited me to A-Kon in 2012 and asked me to make some costumes with them. I made a humanized Rainbow Dash from My Little Pony by cobbling together pieces from my closet and eBay. I also made Book 1 Korra from Avatar: The Legend of Korra. That was my very first sewing project. It was so, so bad, but it quickly lead to an obsession. I was so amazed by all the costumes I saw at A-Kon and the level of detail and creativity. It didn’t take long to develop a ridiculously long cosplay wishlist!
After the con, I bought my own sewing machine and looked up every YouTube video I could find on sewing techniques. My stepmom used to make wedding dresses, so she taught me the basics of shopping for patterns, how to cut and read them, and how to sew everything together. She’s largely responsible for several of my early costumes, including my first Rogue.
One of my favorite parts of making my own costumes is the learning process. I’m constantly researching how to handle fabric, how to perfect the fit of a garment, how to build prop pieces, and how to style wigs. There’s always something new to discover with every costume build.
Q: How do you integrate geek chic style into your everyday look?
A: I work in higher education, so I unfortunately have to adhere to a business casual dress code. However, I have a lot of geek-friendly pieces in my wardrobe and I try to slide those in anytime I have a chance. One of my favorite pieces is my Game of Thrones House Targaryen cardigan. You have to look really close to recognize the symbol, so it’s a fun easter egg. It’s also fun to wear geeky jewelry and see how many students recognize the fandoms.
I wear a lot of geeky pieces when I’m not at work. Geeky t-shirts and my Wonder Woman Converse are my go-to items. I also love making geeky dresses, like my Star Wars and Captain Marvel dresses.
Q: When did you learn that you were “geeky”?
A: I’ve always been geeky. My dad introduced me to Star Wars as a kid (I think he still has the VHS tapes), and it’s a tradition in our family to watch every one of the original films over the holidays. Being a 90s kid, I loved the old Marvel cartoons on Fox. X-Men the Animated Series was my jam! I watched a lot of Sailor Moon as well. Cosplay has only strengthened my love of all things geeky.
Q: If you could take any fictional character out for a drink, whom would you choose and what would you drink?
A: Ooh, tough choice. There’s so many! I think right now I’d have to pick Jennifer Walters, a.k.a. She-Hulk. She’s such a brilliant mix of brains and brawn. I’d probably drink my go-to cocktail: a rum and coke.
Q: What would you tell your 13-year-old self?
A: Embrace your passions. Life’s too short to worry about what other people think. And learn to love your body. It’s the only one you have!
Image credit: Aperture Ashley.
Emma Bauer is a Being Geek Chic Contributor. Clearly, she’s got great taste. She is a PR enthusiast, dog lover, tea drinker, art appreciator, and of course, aspires to Be Geek Chic. Follow her on Twitter: @emmalynnbauer
Crystal Clark is a verified geeky fashion expert, connoisseur of geeky home decor, blogger, cosplayer, sci-fi lover, and our Lady Geek of the Week. Last month, Clark participated in not one but two panels at the Stan Lee Comikaze Expo. She joined fellow Lady Geeks of the Week Mandie Bettencourt, Kristin Hackett and Molly McIsaac to discuss their fave trends in geek fashion, along with the best places to snag geek chic clothing and DIY fashion tips to create unique looks. Clark also joined a panel to discuss cultural diversity and representation in pop culture, “a topic that as a chicana I am definitely passionate about.”
Clark blogs about geek art, fashion, cosplay, and more over at Geek Piñata, where she’s completely on top of the geeky Christmas beat. Still looking for the perfect holiday gift for your lady geek? Check out Clark's 2013 Holiday Gift Guide. If all else fails, pick her up a geeky Christmas sweater. Our favorite features Darth Vadar trimming the tree. Yes, it exists.
We caught up with Clark to chat about her passion for FemShep, adolescent anxieties, and geeky self-discovery. Need even more from this Lady Geek of the Week? Catch up with Clark on Twitter (@geekpinata), Pinterest, Facebook, and YouTube.
Q: How did you discover your passion and what led you to launch Geek Piñata?
A: It was a natural process that occurred as more and more geeky clothing for women started to crop up. I’ve always adored games, comics, Star Wars, and so on. I’ve also always loved cute clothing. Mix the two together and it was instant love for me. I started just sharing geek fashion stuff I would find on my personal facebook page, and it got so much response that I figured it was time to start a blog instead! And voila, Geek Piñata was born.
The site is actually just a hobby, but I do put a lot of time into it because it’s a true passion of mine. Due to the positive responses to the blog, I was invited by a video game merchandise company to PAX Prime this year and I was invited to be a panelist at Stan Lee’s Comikaze Expo last month. It’s been pretty awesome!
Q: When did you discover you were “geeky?”
A: I didn’t know the things I liked were considered “geeky” until I would talk to my friends about it, so I discovered that I was “geeky” during grade school. The vast majority of my friends growing up were not at all into games or comics. That was something I would enjoy a lot on my own.
Q: If you could take any fictional character out for a drink, whom would you choose and what would you drink?
A: If anyone who knows me reads this, they will not at all be surprised by this answer! I would take out FemShep (from the game Mass Effect) for a drink. FemShep is a leader, she’s intelligent, she’s courageous, and she has a very wide range of emotion. Anyone who has played the games knows that probably the strongest element of that game is Commander Shepard and the friendships that she makes with those around her (which makes saving the universe all that much more important). I would mostly just want to be around her, listen to her stories, and feel inspired by the person she is.
I would hope that a round of drinks doesn’t end up like the scene in Mass Effect 2, though. (We all have flaws! Haha)
Q: What would you tell your 13-year-old self?
A: Oh man, the things a 13-year-old worries about is so ridiculous in retrospect. It’s a bit embarrassing but I was a very late bloomer and awkward growing up, so I was getting made fun of a lot for that reason at that age. I used to cry over it and pray that I would be blessed with puberty overnight. I would probably tell my 13-year-old self not to worry about it because I *did* hit puberty eventually! Haha.
Q: What would be the title of your memoir?
A: Leia, Ripley, Elektra, Left-Eye: How My Influences Shaped Me into the Woman I Am Today
Emma Bauer is a Being Geek Chic Contributor. Clearly, she’s got great taste. She is a PR enthusiast, history scholar, tea drinker, fashion devotee, and of course, aspires to Be Geek Chic. Follow her on Twitter: @emmalynnbauer
