This post was edited on 10/27/26 by @starg1rl19
When the word “fangirl” is mentioned, it’s often said with a less-than-stellar connotation–a pre-teen girl, hysterical tears, a Justin Bieber shirt, and the opportunity to hold his hand for a fraction of a second. Oftentimes, the word and the stereotype bring along a negative connotation. As a certified fangirl myself, I am all too familiar with what people really mean when they say “fangirl”; obsessed, insane, and probably more concerned with getting to be in the same vicinity as Harry Styles than with my rent.
But what about male fans who exhibit the same behaviors, only with sports teams instead of celebrities? The ones who spend amounts of money that would scare a financial advisor on the Super Bowl and host watch parties while they paint their chests with their team’s colors? It is rare to hear the term “fanboy.” Instead, male fans are met with praise for being “dedicated” to their favorite teams and players.
Is this the fault of male fans? No. However, it is the product of a misogynistic culture that deems the emotions and interests of feminine people as hysterical, overdramatic, and silly. It stems from a society that has separated interests into “for girls” and “for boys.” It has treated the thoughts, ideas, and interests of women, girls, and femme-presenting people as silly and childish: something they will leave behind as they develop and become invested in the prospect of marriage and motherhood. Meanwhile, the masculine interest in sports is seen as a way of connection with others and “supporting the team.”
What this ignorant (and inherently sexist and misogynistic) view fails to take into account is what goes on in the lives of feminine fans outside of what meets the eye. Personally, the benefits I, as well as countless other young people I have met, have gotten out of being a “fangirl” far outweighs the negatives that come from a stereotype. I have made friends that will be my future bridesmaids, I have gotten to travel to countries and states that I haven’t been to before for the sole purpose of a concert, and I have even gone as far as to pursue studying music industry here at JMU.
When I tell people these things, I am often met with criticizing looks and “Isn’t that taking the obsession a bit far?” comments. When my male counterparts tell people that they are a Sports Management major because of their love for a specific football team, they are met with adoring sighs and praise of what a wonderful career path that is. How can we change this for fans everywhere, whether it’s the pre-teens discovering K-POP or the mother remembering her love for the Backstreet Boys?
- 1) We can look past the attractiveness of the people on stage or in the movies. While many do enjoy the looks of the people onstage, it’s often more than that. Women’s Health Magazine details just some of the reasons why women and other feminine people, no matter their age, continue to love rockstars and boybands (they even cite a neuroscientist!).
- 2) As both fans and feminists, we can engage with the community around us. For example, I have seen fan projects turn into incredible advocacy movements. For two fans, what started as making band and fan themed keychains ended up becoming fundraisers for Palestinian aid and the American Suicide Prevention Foundation.
- 3) We can work to change the world around us, even if it’s not fandom related. We can listen to marginalized voices about how being a fan of something has encouraged them to pursue higher education in marketing or the fine arts, led to careers in music, or even allowed them make friends with different experiences than their own.
As feminists, we can teach the men in our lives that just because our interests are different from theirs doesn’t make them any less valid. A young woman who loves One Direction is just as incredible as a young man who loves the Pittsburgh Steelers. And last but definitely not least, we can continue to enjoy the things we love unapologetically.