gender & comic books; or, the tale of how one girl feels uncomfortable in her lcs.
So, on Monday, I went into my (super-)local comic book store for the first time in a long time and apparently I still feel patronised and uncomfortable about going in there. I have never felt this way about any other comic book store but I feel that way about this one which is incredibly sad because it's only a ten minute walk from my house and is totally independent.
It's basically this dingy little shop which is as full of Warhammer and Magic cards as it is with comics and graphic novels and it sort of feels like their main customer base are the same people who go to their game nights. And, you know what, I would not mind that at all, if they didn't always patronisingly ask me if I needed any help when I'm in there.
In most cases, I'd think that asking if I needed help was store policy or, y'know, just good customer service but, somehow, when the bearded guy behind that counter asks it really always feels as though he's doing it because he thinks I couldn't possibly know what any of this stuff is or what I want. Or maybe he's just sure I'm just looking for the tiny manga section in the back because I am a girl and, y'know, couldn't possibly know what I'm doing or want anything other than that.
The really stupid thing is that, even if I did buy what I went in there for (delicious DC trade paperbacks, come to meeee), I still imagine they'd be thinking it was for my brother or that I am only buying a Nightwing title because of Dick Grayson's fantastic, illustrated ass - which is, admittedly, fantastic but that is not the point at all. (I love Dick just as much when he is Batman and the cape is covering his butt, just so you know.)
And I am aware that this may just be completely, entirely, me projecting my own fears about what other people think about me. But I've honestly never felt that way in another store in my life so I don't really think it's a coincidence or that it has much to do with me. Believe me, I feel much more self-conscious and out-of-my-depth buying make-up than I do buying comics but I've never once felt like anyone else in the cosmetics section thought I wasn't meant to be there - even on days when I'm not wearing any make-up. And, hey, you know, I actually know a lot about Bruce Wayne and nothing about lip pencil - which I think is a thing, right, riiight? (I think I may have bought one when I was looking for eyeliner once.)
So, yeah, maybe I will go back to that comic store one day, when I really need my fix, in spite of everything, just one more time, because it is so conveniently close and they do have a fair range of titles which are relevant to my interests. I just really hoped I would feel differently about going in there now, at the age of 22, knowing that I have every bit as much of a right to be a fan of the things I am a fan of as everyone else. Apparently not though. Better luck next time?
Fun post about Batman movies is forthcoming, by the way. Hurray!
It's basically this dingy little shop which is as full of Warhammer and Magic cards as it is with comics and graphic novels and it sort of feels like their main customer base are the same people who go to their game nights. And, you know what, I would not mind that at all, if they didn't always patronisingly ask me if I needed any help when I'm in there.
In most cases, I'd think that asking if I needed help was store policy or, y'know, just good customer service but, somehow, when the bearded guy behind that counter asks it really always feels as though he's doing it because he thinks I couldn't possibly know what any of this stuff is or what I want. Or maybe he's just sure I'm just looking for the tiny manga section in the back because I am a girl and, y'know, couldn't possibly know what I'm doing or want anything other than that.
The really stupid thing is that, even if I did buy what I went in there for (delicious DC trade paperbacks, come to meeee), I still imagine they'd be thinking it was for my brother or that I am only buying a Nightwing title because of Dick Grayson's fantastic, illustrated ass - which is, admittedly, fantastic but that is not the point at all. (I love Dick just as much when he is Batman and the cape is covering his butt, just so you know.)
And I am aware that this may just be completely, entirely, me projecting my own fears about what other people think about me. But I've honestly never felt that way in another store in my life so I don't really think it's a coincidence or that it has much to do with me. Believe me, I feel much more self-conscious and out-of-my-depth buying make-up than I do buying comics but I've never once felt like anyone else in the cosmetics section thought I wasn't meant to be there - even on days when I'm not wearing any make-up. And, hey, you know, I actually know a lot about Bruce Wayne and nothing about lip pencil - which I think is a thing, right, riiight? (I think I may have bought one when I was looking for eyeliner once.)
So, yeah, maybe I will go back to that comic store one day, when I really need my fix, in spite of everything, just one more time, because it is so conveniently close and they do have a fair range of titles which are relevant to my interests. I just really hoped I would feel differently about going in there now, at the age of 22, knowing that I have every bit as much of a right to be a fan of the things I am a fan of as everyone else. Apparently not though. Better luck next time?
Fun post about Batman movies is forthcoming, by the way. Hurray!