It's Time To Give More Credit To Fangirl Culture

All my life I’ve found myself loving things strongly and passionately and this isn’t always considered a good thing, because having something you love wholeheartedly can often leave you vulnerable. However, having something you love so deeply that brings you joy when you’re facing particularly dark times can be exactly what you need.

One of the hardest things about being passionate is the bad association that comes with being a girl and being a fan. You’re classed as a ‘fangirl’ which is often referred to in a patronising manner, where nobody takes you seriously because, let’s face it, some people in society still have problems with women speaking up and speaking out, whether its equality issues or a film or a band they’re a fan of.

From tv shows to music and musicals, I’ve been involved in a lot of fandoms throughout my life and as with anything in life, they come with the good and bad. However, a common factor in all these fandoms is that I’ve always been surrounded by fellow fangirls. I’m not saying that they were female only spaces, but a lot of the people tended to be women/girls. Not one of them are the same. We all differ in age, race, sexuality, abilities but we all share the love for the same thing and that’s what unites us.

I’m lucky to be surrounded by strong, diverse women who are all passionate about different things and aren’t afraid to show that. However, I think it’s safe to say that we all know what it’s like to receive the judging look when people learn just how passionate you are about something. Whether it’s because you queued all day for a concert, or whether you’ve seen your favourite musical multiple times or going to a convention to meet your favourite actor; people always have something critical to say. Women are criticised for pretty much everything we do – if we’re passionate about something, we’re “crazy fangirls” and people tend to not take us seriously.

If a woman says they’re a fan of something, whether it’s a sport or a band – there’ll always be someone turning around and turning it into a quiz. Suddenly, we’re put on the spot by a man, who also happens to be a fan of said thing, and who tests us on every little thing to do with the subject. If a woman wants to be a fan of something, they’re expected to know the name of their favourite singer’s neighbour’s dog just to prove they’re a fan.

Women have been going out in full force and showing their love and support for their favourite artists, etc, for years and years. For instance, when The Beatles’ popularity was first growing, the frenzy known as ‘Beatlemania’ kicked off and the passionate female fans of the band were often described as “crazy”, but without them – The Beatles hype would never have taken off like it did. That idea of fandom continues in this day and age, yet even though time has moved on – there is still so many negative views surrounding females and fandom culture. This is evident in the way people would describe the female fans of bands such as One Direction and still discuss female centric fandoms. Since the beginning of time, women have also been told to be “seen and not heard”, a concept that some people believe should still be followed today. Women having interests and passions that don’t fit in with a patriarchal society causes us to be shamed and ridiculed.

It says a lot about the kind of world we still live in that women are having to prove themselves in every aspect of life; including fandom life which is supposed to be a place to feel inclusive and safe.

Women are the backbone of so many fandoms and this shows through our passion and unwavering support. “Fangirls” have been a big part of society for a long time and this will only continue to thrive as time goes on. The fangirl culture isn’t something to be mocked or shamed; instead it is something that should be celebrated and encouraged.