Data for: Cosplay & the geek: the tension between creativity, inclusion, & gatekeeping in cosplay. What types of gatekeeping do cosplayers experience?

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between geek masculinity and gatekeeping within the cosplay community. This study aims to gain in-depth information on gatekeeping behaviours witnessed in the cosplay community and to a degree the wider geek subculture.

The sample was from the Scottish cosplay scene. Nine cosplayers took part in online semi-structured interviews between (March and May 2020), which were transcribed and thematically analysed using NVivo software. Most interviews lasted between 45 minutes and an hour, although two interviews lasted two hours. This study is sufficient in showing the views and experiences of a small community of cosplayers who live or have lived in Scotland. Many of the participants are not Scottish by birth and have experience of other international cosplay communities and how cosplay is affected by the surrounding culture.