The term furry describes a diverse community of fans, artists, writers, gamers, and role players. Most furries create for themselves an anthropomorphized animal character (fursona) with whom they identify and can function as an avatar within the community. Some furries wear elaborate costumes or paraphernalia such as animal ears or tails, or represent themselves as anthropomorphic animals in online communities such as Second Life.
Furry fandom is an inclusive term that describes the community of furries that span online, local, and international settings. The furry fandom is global, with hundreds of local groups existing worldwide and dozens of conventions held annually.
Many of the negative stereotypes about the furry fandom were empirically tested and found to be unsubstantiated. When compared to a control group, furries were significantly more likely to have a history of being physically and verbally bullied, a difference particularly prominent during adolescence (61.7% vs. 37.1%). Our studies indicate that 65% of furries say that they have told almost no one in their family about their furry interests, and approximately 70% say that they have told almost no one they see in their day-to-day life (e.g., work). Approximately 60% of furries agreed that they felt prejudice against furries from society, while approximately 40% of furries felt that being a furry was not socially accepted. The more strongly a person identifies as a furry, the more likely they are to feel that they are treated worse by society for being furry. When seeking counseling or therapy for unrelated conditions, many furries report that they were driven away by therapists who ignored the problems they were experiencing (e.g., depression) and instead focused on “being furry” as the problem. Our studies also show that other fan groups dislike furries, so furries’ fears are founded.
despite all that the furry fandom persists and more to the point to most of us in the the fandom being a furry is really just a hobby nothing more but for some people can make a living of of it (e.g artists fursuit makers professional dancers etc) overall the fandom is a fun and welcoming place for all kinds of people (except zoophiles they deserve to burn)
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