FAQs
Q: What is GeekGirlCon?
A: GeekGirlCon is an organization that works to empower marginalized geeks of all kinds to pursue their passions—whether they love science and technology, comics, literature, gaming, or anything else! Everybody is a geek at heart, in one way or another. Our mission is to ensure all these geeks are supported, welcomed, and encouraged to pursue what they love.
GeekGirlCon’s largest event is a two-day convention that gives geeks of all kinds and their supporters the opportunity to build a community, share facts and fandom, and learn how they can help promote the role of women and other underrepresented groups in geek culture. We also bring people together through social media and events in the Greater Seattle area. We have a lot of fun doing this, although we aren’t afraid to also tackle some serious topics related to safety, support, and equality of all geeky individuals.
We invite anybody who wants to celebrate and feel safe in geek-related spaces to join GeekGirlCon.
Q: Why do you need an organization entirely dedicated to geeky women?
A: When most people hear the word “geek,” they don’t picture femme, queer, BIPOC, or disabled folk, even though all of these identities have been present at the gaming table, in the library, or in your computer programming class from the beginning. But this reality is not always recognized or celebrated. Marginalized geeks at times still struggle to have one safe and welcoming place to share their passions, attend panels concerning their contributions to geek culture, and celebrate who they are and what they love. This is why GeekGirlCon is still a vital and important place for geeks of all kinds to gather.
Q: Who founded GeekGirlCon?
A: GeekGirlCon is a community-driven effort, and it started that way as well. We did not have one founder. Rather, the idea to form GeekGirlCon sparked after a panel called “Geek Girls Exist” at San Diego Comic-Con in 2010. The group began talking about how we could help ensure female geeks had one safe and welcoming place to come together, examine their role in geek culture, and empower other women and girls to celebrate who they are and what they love. That’s how GeekGirlCon started. Through the years, GGC has sought to broaden our horizons and make sure that geeks of all kinds feel supported, welcomed, and seen at our convention. We want to make sure geeks with marginalized identities walk through our doors and feel that they can be authentically them without fear of persecution or harm.
Q: What makes this convention different from all the other conventions and conferences out there?
A: What makes us different is one simple concept: conventions and conferences should include content for less-represented identities. Sure, our name emphasizes female geeks. But our real goal is to promote a culture that brings EVERYONE together to share their geeky quirks; celebrate their role in science, technology, media, and gaming; and build the next generation of strong, powerful geeks.
Q: What message do you want to send through GeekGirlCon’s efforts and events?
A: The most important thing we want to convey through GeekGirlCon is that geeks of all kinds are out there and we support one another. We hope to create a space where geeks, gamers, science folks, and all others encourage one another, respect one another, and stand up for one another.
When we say anyone is welcome, we mean it! You just have to share our commitment to supporting the achievements of folks of all kinds in geek culture. Whether you know everything there is to know about one thing, one thing about everything, or are just starting out in your geeky journey, you are welcome at GeekGirlCon.
We also believe there is power in numbers (some of us are math majors, after all). If we come together to demonstrate the true number of geeks of all identities out there, eventually the various companies that traditionally market to the “standard” geek—from comic book publishers to film studios—will acknowledge the femme, BIPOC, disabled, and the expansive demographics as well. We can’t make a difference if we’re silent.
Finally, we want to convey this message to geeks of all kinds, in all bodies, and of all ages: pursue your geeky passions and strive to contribute to geek culture—whether it is getting involved in conventions; using your voice to advocate for causes you care about; or finding a job in something like game design, mechanical engineering, or another geeky thing you love.
Q: Will GeekGirlCon be expanding beyond Seattle in the future?
A: We know there are amazing geeks worldwide who want to contribute to and join the GeekGirlCon community. Though there are no current plans for another physical convention outside of Seattle, our stream team has been working diligently to try and share the content from the convention online through our twitch and YouTube! However, if you’re interested in becoming a part of staff or the board of directors, you do not have to be in the Seattle area to join! Feel free to look at our openings and inquire about the roles currently available!
Q: How do people get involved with GeekGirlCon?
A: You can help by volunteering or joining our volunteer staff, attending our events and convention, following us on social media, or donating to the cause.
