The Negotiation of Muslimah Identity in Hijab Cosplay Phenomenon

Abstract

The identity of Muslimah is often associated with the idea of using hijab as a form of obedience to religion. This research examines the experiences of hijab women who use cosplay culture to represent their talents and creativity by creating a new culture. This research uses circuit of culture theory by Paul du Gay and Stuart Hall to analyze hijab cosplayers’ experiences in making hijab cosplay. The method used in this research is the qualitative research method and photo study technique to collect the data. This research shows that the process of creating hijab cosplay passes through identity, production, consumption, regulation, and representation that interplay and define one another. Therefore, hijab cosplay culture has become an arena for hijab women to create new meanings by uniting two discourses — cosplay and hijab —through daily practice. Their identity as hijab women influenced how hijab cosplay was produced and carried out. The costume and the cosplayer’s character relate to how hijab cosplayers consume a product. Some regulations regulate the activities of hijab cosplayers, such as the norm of hijab cosplay which comes from Islamic values and cosplay characteristics. The whole process is also represented by the appearance of hijab cosplayers in everyday life.

Keywords

• circuit of culture
• everyday life
• hijab cosplay
• identity
• muslimah