Hijabi Cosplay: Performances of Culture, Religion, and Fandom

The practice of “cosplay” among fan cultures—that is, dressing up like fictional pop culture characters—has increased in visibility with the rising popularity of “geek” culture. A particularly interesting cultural intersection of this phenomenon is the act of cosplaying among Muslim fans, who incorporate visible markers such as the hijab into their costume, thereby challenging stereotypes of “fan” and “Muslim.” This article examines the practice of cosplay among Muslim women through the lens of Judith Butler’s idea of “performativity” and Pierre Bourdieu’s “habitus” as well as through interviews with Muslim cosplayers on how they synthesize their religious identities with their fandoms.