Earning Fangirl Street Cred



The notion of authenticity is critical in comic-book culture and, for some diehard devotees, having a cursory knowledge isn’t enough. Michelle, for instance, says fans of the Batman movies who can't demonstrate a working knowledge of the “real” Batman origin story and plots aren’t taken seriously. “They write you off, like you’re not true,” she says, adding that it’s especially hard for women in this respect. She gets questions like, “Are you really into it? Are you sure it’s not your boyfriend? Are you sure?” It’s important to note that the women we spoke to for this story represent a small segment of a huge population of female fans with varied interests, concerns, and identities. Still, the challenge of proving one's bona fides was a common theme. For example, take "gatekeeping." By this practice, fans — usually male — anoint themselves the guardians of authentic fandom and question anyone (usually women) who want in. Several of our interviewees say it’s not uncommon for men to approach women in comic book shops and start quizzing them on how much they know about a certain character or even question why they’re there. “I’ve been quizzed maybe on four occasions,” says Darlena, a fangirl in her 40s from New York. “I told them I refuse to answer the question because it’s based on a stereotype and I don’t buy into stereotypes. It’s saying that you can’t possibly be an authentic fan because you’re a woman. That just doesn’t make sense. … You get to a certain point, you’re like, ‘This is about me, my expression, and my love for the character. You’re not worthy of an answer. Have a good day.’” On the other hand, Grace, a member of Darlena’s cosplayer group, says her experience has felt less like gatekeeping and more like a knowledge exchange. She shared a story about a recent trip to Midtown Comics in New York City, where a man asked her about a plot point in the Doom comic. "We went back and forth and that just showed me that the person had respect for me as a [fellow] comic book lover,” she says. “I recommended a bunch of comics to him.” Gatekeeping rears its head between fangirls, too — usually in cosplay. “The first [question] when you dress up [is often] did you make your costume or did you buy it?” Michelle says. Those who make their own costumes are revered, while those who purchase them are considered “meh.” This creates a divide between women who dress as the "authentic" version of the character versus those who are perceived as trying to be cosplay famous. “The girls will get side-eye from other girls if they dress like the slutty versions of the characters,” Michelle explains. Granted, she adds, “comic book girls to begin with are provocative.”