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I invite you into the mind of a South African Geek Girl. I encourage you to step into my world, to feel how I feel about comic books, series and sci-fi movies. Allow yourself to experience being exhilarated at the fact that you are about to watch an episode of your favorite TV series, read a five hundred page sci-fi novel, or that Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, is coming out in December.
Now, imagine a guy you have a crush on, telling you that geek girls don’t exist, that girls can’t possibly like comic books or PC and video games. Envision yourself wearing that Avengers t-shirt that you bought and having every second person asking you if you’re wearing your boyfriend’s or brother’s shirt. This is an Indiana Jones booby-trap that Geek Girls around the globe have to pass through, at least once a day.
I know that Geek Girls all over the world experience this slander every single day, but us Geek Girls here in South Africa have it hard. Here is a list of the struggles, I feel we have:
#1. When it comes to clothing with fandom symbols or pictures on, we have to either buy from the kiddies (yes I bought a size 13-14 Darth Vader shirt this week) or male section in clothing stores. These clothes don’t exactly fit the best, but we deal with what we have. There are only a few small business owners, such as myself at Spiritually Geeky, that make an effort to import feminine geek clothing and jewellery, which can become quite expensive (for your customers and yourself) if you can’t import in bulk as you’d like to.
#2. Guys think we’re aliens or something (the kind you avoid, no E.T. or Roswell love happening here). You’d be amazed at how many dudes have told me that I’m weird because I like comic books and randomly quote sci-fi movie lines etc. Even my little brother, who is nine years old, tells me that I’m not a normal girl because I “like what only boys are supposed to like” and hum the Imperial March to myself.
#3. Some other women (and men) accuse you of “pretending to like geeky things to get a boyfriend”. This statement is completely offensive! For millions of reasons! Are you telling me that you feel I wouldn't be able to get a boyfriend if I liked the things you do? I know that some women would go to the extent of “pretending” to get attention, but I’m an educated independent woman thank you very much! I don’t need the attention of a man (unless we’re talking Jensen Ackles, and my fiance of course…).
#4. Guys can’t accept that you can beat them at PC and video games. I love my fiance (bless his gaming skills), but the amount of excuses he comes up with when I get more kills than him when we play COD Black Ops 2 on Xbox 360, is sad. Playing online is worse! Guys either want to protect you (even though you CAN protect yourself) then proceed to flirt with you, or they make it their mission in life to hunt you down and kill you. Yes I am a girl. Yes I enjoy playing PC and Video games. Yes I can totally kick your ass at those games. No you won’t be any less of a man if I do happen to kick your ass. Can we get this as a bumper sticker please?
#5. People assume that because you’re a Geek Girl, you’re either butt ugly or lick your controller like you’re eating a KFC soft serve ice cream in your lingerie. All I can say is, You Know Nothing Jon Snow! and I would never lick my controller because that would make it feel sexually harassed (yes it has feelings too).
#6. And last, but not exactly last because I could carry on all day, people assume you are a virgin. Now, this is the worst for me. It sort of ties in with most of my list, but just because I am a Geek Girl, does not mean that I am a lonely emo virgin who has no life. As I mentioned a few times, I have a fiance and he is awesome and loves that I am a Geek Girl. All we need is that one guy who embraces our Geek side and begs us to heal him when he is busy dying in a game (which we secretly find hilarious because we told him to not attempt to be Rambo).
To all my fellow Geek Girls that are reading this, you are beautiful! Life would be boring if you didn't exist! Don’t ever feel weird because in your world you are many different characters! One day, this adventure we have embarked on will be understood and we will get that ring of judgement to Mordor and all will be well!
