Anime Conventions and young women

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This weekend I went to an anime convention. It had ALOT of women, as in a 2:1 ratio women:men. Most of these women were between 15-25 years old.

This is the first time I have been to one. I am in my early thirties. I went mainly because I was curious, I was a long time fan, but I would not say I get into it at the same level that these people did (cosplay), where it was a very strong obsession (they liked EVERYTHING to do with anime and manga).

I had a great time, just trying to figure this out as a subcultural phenomenom. I should note that many of these girls did seem to have some ASD or AD(H)D. I am not jumping to conclusions though.

Last edited by starygrrl on 23 Nov 2009, 12:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.

dang

I've always wanted to go to an anime convention, but the towns/cities they have these conventions at are way too far from home.

I don't think I could ever cosplay, because I don't have the patience or the attention span to actually make a costume.

U could always buy a costume online or pay someone to make it for you.

I am an anime fan and have been going to anime conventions in Melbourne for a few years and also pop culture conventions like Armageddon and Supanova.
great fun it is.

I am 24.

Were you at AnimeUSA? I was planning on going but I wasn't feeling well.

Many of my obsessions are built around or at least somewhat connected with movies and TV, so I am quite involved in fan groups online. I will say that I have noticed that a very high percentage of people heavily involved in fandom have some kind of 'issue'. I have seen ones like me with AS or with ADHD. Also a lot who have depression/bi-polar, who have OCD, who have histories of abuse. I don't think it's simply a case of being in communities where they feel more comfortable discussing problems people would usually keep quiet about. Something makes us this way, whether it is a condition that makes us predisposed to obsessional behavior, or a driving need to 'escape' from part of ourselves into another world.

A lot of my friends or people I know (like at my school's anime club) that like anime may have something like ADHD. And most are female that I know personally, but the anime club is about even with males and females.
I'm not sure if I like anime too much to go to a convention, but cosplaying sounds fun to me, which may sound unusual And my avatar is from an anime film (an amazing one) but I rarely watch anime as it is.
Many of my friends can be obsessed or highly interested in anime, but my obsessions are other things. x3 Also, many of them plan to go to conventions or already have been to one or two.

Anime conventions are good fun! I've only been to the small one in Iowa, but I'd like to make it to acen sometime.

I, too, noticed that most of the attendants are women (I'm 23). I really don't know why, either :) I usually see them in groups instead of alone, like some of the guys who go.

I've been to a couple. I love making costumes, so they appeal naturally to me. But the crowds and the social side always put me off. People tend to cluster into groups, and I'm always on the outside of them. So in terms of cost/benefits, I tend to avoid them now. I still make costumes for other people to, and enjoy seeing the photos back. But the experience itself is just too overwhelming for me to want to pay that much for it.

Aspie goth 25-year old women... Perfect...