Anime fans vary greatly. The fandom of a particular anime, or even just anime in general can span across nationalities and genders. People from all over the world can all enjoy the same anime, and thanks to the internet, they can meet and discuss it with other like minded people in online forums like Reddit and on social media sites like Facebook. You’d think this would mean that anime is free from things like misogyny, but that is sadly not true. While the vast majority of anime fans and communities are open minded, there are always trolls. Though few in number, these types of people make it hard for others, especially woman, to feel welcome in the anime community, even going so far as to try and force them out.
In online communities, woman face sexual harassment and bullying. Simply being a woman can make them a target for insults. This is especially common on internet forums where there is almost complete anonymity. Internet bullies are more vicious because they aren’t having to face the person they are insulting. Even if they aren’t directly attacked, women can still be faced with prejudice. Due to the stereotype that women can’t be nerdy, fan boys will question the sincerity of a fan girl’s interest. They even face the possibility that any argument they make will be thrown out simply because a woman “doesn’t get it”.
In offline communities, women face a lot of prejudice as well. They can be sexually harassed and mistreated, or ignored as just being “booth babes”. Most media coverage of conventions and the like only show women in sexualized outfits and will ignore their participation, while focusing only on their male counterparts. This is especially frustrating because of how opposite this is in reality. Women are a large portion of the offline community, and their participation is vital.
So, in a community that is heavily contributed to by woman, why would they still be looked down upon by members of that very same community? Well, one part of it may just be the stigma that society in general has put on women who enjoy nerdy things and the stereotypes on both men and women, but maybe there is yet another cause of this uncalled for behavior.
The problem may have begun with anime itself. Although, the argument could be made that female characters, especially in recent years, have been shown to be stronger and more capable. For example, Mikasa from Attack on Titan. She’s able to stand on her own from the beginning, and she sets an example for others to follow. Another example might be Lady Tsunade from Naruto. On top of being one of the most powerful ninja in the village, she’s the first female hokage, the leader of the village. Those characters are independent and don’t need to rely on the male characters, setting a good example for female viewers, and showing the strength of women. However, in a lot of anime, that isn’t always true.
imagesource: http://fc08.deviantart.net
Then again, shouldn’t it be the community that takes responsibility?
How can that be done? Well, the solution is pretty simple. When you’re on your favorite forum, talking about your favorite thing, be sure to keep an eye out for trolls. Most of what keeps a bully, well, bullying, is the fact that they aren’t properly dealt with. If they think they’re getting to the person they’re harassing, they will continue to harass them. Speak up against bullying when you see it, offline or on. That way, if the community is behind it, we can stop bullying and harassment within the anime fandom.
Remember that everyone on a forum is a real person, and that you’re both there to contribute to a community of people who all enjoy the same things. Be kind, be respectful, and keep watching!
Author:
Matthew/BigMish