Who Gets To Be a Geek: Unpacking Gatekeeping in the Geek Community

Geek Girl Authority

29-07-2025

Who Gets To Be a Geek: Unpacking Gatekeeping in the Geek Community
by Amanda Boyd
The gatekeeping conversation is as old as the geek community itself. We continue to ask, 'Who gets to be a fan?' Even though geekdom has become more mainstream and inclusive than ever, gatekeeping is still very present. At its worst, it's outright discrimination. At its best? Even then, it's often rooted in fear of loss rather than love for the work. When Gatekeeping Is Just Discrimination
Many of us have either experienced or witnessed the most unfortunate side of gatekeeping: a woman being asked whether she really knows Star Wars , a BIPOC cosplayer being told their costume isn't 'accurate,' or someone being met with surprise because they don't 'look' like an anime fan. This isn't passion for fandom, it's prejudice wearing a fandom t-shirt. It's discrimination, plain and simple.
Some people use fandoms as a shield for their racism, sexism, and other biases. They try to turn communities meant to celebrate creativity and connection into exclusive clubs. However, fandoms thrive when they're open and diverse. Women make up nearly half of the gaming community, and LGBTQ+ fans also have a prominent presence, despite being underrepresented. We're finally living in an age where diverse stories and voices are being recognized and celebrated in geek spaces, and the communities are better for it.
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So, when you see someone being targeted online or at a con just for existing in a space they love, speak up. This form of gatekeeping doesn't come from love of the content; it comes from dislike of others. And that's never what fandom should be about. The Emotional Roots of 'Protective' Gatekeeping
That said, not all gatekeeping comes from a place of hate. Some of it comes from fear, fear that something meaningful will be changed or lost. For long-time fans, especially those who found a deep personal connection to a show, game, or story before it hit the mainstream, there's a feeling of ownership. You were there at the start. You 'got it' before the world did and saw yourself in the art.
Then comes the adaptation. The reboot and the studio cash-in. Suddenly, that once-intimate thing feels mass-produced, rebranded for people who don't love it the way you do. It can feel like watching a cherished memory get turned into a marketing campaign. You can probably name at least three franchises that have gone through this exact trajectory. Many fans can.
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Wanting to protect that original feeling, the authenticity, is natural. Art helps us express who we are, and when that expression feels diluted or co-opted, it stings. But here's the hard truth… Gatekeeping Doesn't Really Work
Despite all the fan debates, trivia battles, purity tests, and cosplay critiques, gatekeeping hasn't stopped fandoms from growing. In fact, geek culture is bigger than ever. There's a constant tug-of-war over who's the 'real' fan: Who's been here longer? Who knows more? Can you quote every line? Do you own the rare collector's edition?
But none of that actually controls what happens to the art. Fans rarely dictate whether something becomes mainstream, rebooted, or franchised. Artists themselves know that once their work is out in the world, it stops belonging to them. It takes on a life of its own. Fans, on the other hand, often struggle with that reality.
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The truth is, the art you love is going to change. The community around it will change too. But change doesn't mean loss. You Will Always Have What You Loved
Here's the most important thing to remember: no matter how popular or diluted a franchise becomes, you will always have the version that made you fall in love. No one can take that from you. The original game, book, show, or comic is still there. Even if the new versions don't speak to you, you still own your connection to what once was.
We all chase the high of that first time a piece of art really hit us. But that feeling isn't meant to be recreated exactly. Art evolves. Artists evolve. Culture evolves. And while we can mourn what's changed, we can also choose to celebrate the impact the original had on us, and still has.
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Maybe the 'posers' fade away. Maybe the fandom finds its balance again. Or maybe it becomes something entirely new. Regardless, your love for it is real, and it endures.
So, instead of guarding the gates, maybe it's time we opened them. With care, with context, and with community. Because the best thing about art is that it brings people together, and there's room for everyone who truly loves it.
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