There is a certain stigma that can sometimes accompany being a cosplayer. That stigma is immaturity. It doesn’t mean cosplayers are actually immature, it just means that some people think cosplayers are immature because they enjoy dressing up as characters.

Some People Just Won’t Understand

Despite all the enjoyment you might attain from dressing up in costume, some people just won’t understand it. If it was more mainstream, perhaps more people would be accepting of it. But since cosplayers are still something of a “cult” group, there is unfortunately the stigma of immaturity attached to it.

For some reason, many people perceive dressing up in costume as a mark of immaturity. Sure it’s fine for Halloween, or to wave a sign in a car sales lot. But to dress up in costume and go to a convention with other people who like dressing up in costume…for some reason that’s just not deemed “normal” by general society.

And yes, I’m sure there are some cosplayers who really are immature, but there’s someone immature in any hobby. Cosplay is no exception. But like any other hobby, the majority of its participants are mature, well-adjusted human beings who are just having fun. Cosplayers are just often seen as immature because their hobby isn’t mainstream, and therefore not normal.

Football Fans Are “Normal”… Cosplayers Are Not…

Of course it’s always interesting to see what society will deem “normal.” It’s considered perfectly normal for grown men and women to go to a football game, wear hats in the shape of cheese blocks on their heads, paint their chests and faces in their favorite team’s colors, and yell and scream at the top of their lungs in support or opposition of the calls being made.

For some reason, that is considered acceptable, while dressing up as Frodo and heading for a comic con gets you labeled as a nerd. The only difference really is that football is mainstream. The fans behave exactly the same way, but dressing up for a football game is just more accepted because it’s seen more often.

I’ve also noticed there’s a perceived difference between just making costumes and dressing up in them. When all I did was make costumes, that was seen as a perfectly reasonable job. But when I started dressing up in costumes as well, and attending comic cons, suddenly I was seen a bit differently.

When people find out you’re a cosplayer, there’s usually an “oh, that’s cool” statement. But you can see them silently forming the judgement that you have no friends, live in your mom’s basement, and probably have the mental capacity of a ten year old. They’ll give you suggestions to check some show or movie that they think you’d love, and when you do, you find out it’s something aimed at pre-schoolers (true story, this actually happened to me).

Cosplayers Are Doctors and Lawyers Too

There’s a silent belief that if you cosplay, you must be an outcast of some sort. You couldn’t possibly be a well-adjusted member of society. In reality, most cosplayers are just regular people whose enjoyment happens to be different from mainstream. They have houses, and jobs, and friends, most of whom don’t even cosplay. There have been a few videos shot at comic cons, where they asked cosplayers to reveal their occupations. Many non-cosplaying people are shocked to find out that cosplayers are doctors, lawyers, teachers, house cleaners, hairdressers, and a slew of other “normal” occupations.

Of course the bright side is, the stigma that comes with being a cosplayer usually only applies to casual acquaintances. People who actually know you well, know that it’s simply a hobby, and everyone’s hobbies are different. Some people play an instrument, some people play computer games, some people restore antique cars, and some people dress up in costume. And as as long as you’re doing what you love, keep doing it. The people who think you’re weird are usually people who don’t know you that well anyway, and just don’t understand. So don’t let their opinion dissuade you from enjoying your hobby. Because if football fans are normal, so are you (and unlike football fans, cosplayers generally don’t scream at the TV 😉 ).

Written by Amber Reifsteck, The Woodland Elf

The information provided on this website is for general information purposes only. If you choose to rely on the information on this website, you do so at your own risk and you assume responsibility for the results. (Full disclaimer here)

Ads by Google

Related posts:

The Art of Cosplay Cosplaying in Bought Costumes The First Cosplay Costume 15 Cosplay Hacks Every Cosplayer Should Know