The Art of Fangirling: To be deranged or dedicated?

How is it that being called a “fangirl” is deemed among the highest of insults? From obsessive and crazy to stalker-ish, unhinged and insane, the word is mostly used to poke fun at the enjoyment of teenage girls. Why is it that we continue to look down upon girls who stream the music, purchase the t-shirts and vinyl, buy the tickets, and continuously show up for their favorite artists? After all, what would the music industry look like without fangirls?

The truth is that, without fangirls, the music industry would lose its lifeline. At the very minimum, the power of fangirls is reflected in artist revenue. Fans that buy merchandise and sell out tours are what keeps artists afloat. Beyond this, there are greater economic advantages that fangirls are directly responsible for – just look at what Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour did to boost the economy in cities like Nashville, Las Vegas, Tampa, and Philadelphia. From driving up sales for local businesses, to hotel rates and restaurant bills, each stop on the tour reaped the benefits of a mass influx of concertgoers for its local economies. Not only are fangirls critical to the monetary aspect of an artist’s career, but they are also essential to building the strong communities that artists crave. Fangirls show unconditional support through online fanpages, catalyze traction surrounding new releases by participating in trends, organize fan projects that engage entire crowds at shows, and invest time to connect with other fans, all in the name of loving the same artist. 

Not only is the negatively connotated use of “fangirl” outright unnecessary, it is also deeply – and problematically – rooted in misogyny. Young teenage girls who are passionate about something are called “deranged,” while equally passionate male counterparts are called “dedicated.” Why is it that it’s unacceptable for female fans to scream at concerts, but acceptable and even glorified for male fans to do the same at sporting events? The “fan” behavior shows up in athletics and music events identically: there’s yelling, cheering, crying, dressing up, traveling to events, making fan accounts. The same behavior is spoken about differently, perpetuating the overly dramatic stereotype that women are frequently boxed into. And, this isn’t just true for music – female sports fans experience the same misogynistic fan hate that female music fans do, whilst male fans of either are free to enjoy without criticism. The problem isn’t the fangirling, it’s the gendered stereotypes associated with a woman’s interest in something she enjoys. 

The quintessential image of the “fangirl” has widely transformed along with the ebb and flow of popular artists. Stars including Madonna and Mariah Carey have attracted legions of gay male fans for decades. The modern-day dominance of likewise gay icons such as Troye Sivan, The DARE, Chappell Roan, and Charli XCX, which have similarly garnered large male followings, prove that the literal meaning of the term “fangirl” has extended far beyond its gender connotation. Artists have attracted a mixed base of supporters that defy the face value meaning of fangirls since the very beginning of pop music, demonstrating that fangirling is so much more than what it is stereotypically reduced to. Countless artists have cultivated followings with a bigger gender split, and as the fanbases of these artists continue to grow and strengthen, it is evident that “fangirl” is no longer a form-fitting exclusive term: people of all genders partake in fan culture alike. 

However, we must acknowledge that some of the criticism towards fangirl behavior is valid. Incidents of stalking artists’ locations and leaking private pictures on the internet has blurred the lines between fandom and invasions of privacy. It is important to note that this is the behavior of the few and far between – the vast majority of fanbases hold respect for the artists they brazenly spend their free time researching, and do not condone the behavior of the obsessive few. Many fans not only uphold the boundaries set by their favorite artists, but also re-enforce them by blocking harmful accounts and getting leaks taken down. It is unfortunate that the behavior of an inevitable few has allowed fangirling to be viewed negatively. 

Contrary to the media’s derogatory depictions of fans and their “manic” behavior of sobbing and screeching, I find it to be a beautifully touching thing as a fangirl myself. Some of the best catharsis I’ve experienced involves being moved to tears while hearing my favorite songs live. Additionally, the way fangirls meet each other is no different than meeting friends through any other hobby – though I will argue that fangirling together feels all the more special. Befriending people you share a deep, emotional connection to the same songs with is one of the greatest and most unique gifts – the product of loving the same thing is only an outpouring of even more love and human connection. In my eyes, it is what music is all about.

Taylor Swift’s fanbase, called Swifties, are often one of the first examples that come to mind when I think of these special groups of fans. Swifties travel to follow her on tour, spend months handcrafting concert outfits, and gather extensive merch collections. Despite the negative connotations attributed to fangirls, Swift has continually shown mass appreciation for her fans over the span of her career – she recognizes that her fans are integral to who she’s become and has taken careful time to build a special relationship with them. She rewards her most dedicated fans with opportunities to meet her – from private listening parties in her home for previous albums (called “Secret Sessions”), to free meet and greets at her shows, and most recently with personalized invitations to the premiere for her Eras Tour film. 

Through and through, fangirling is truly the glue that holds the music industry together. It is an art, a sport, and everything in between. Despite the reputation that past incidents of obsessive fans have assigned to fangirl culture, the overgeneralization that this is the behavior of all fangirls should be stopped. Without the dedication and work that fangirls put into showing up for their favorite artists, there really would be no music. Artists have careers because of their fans, and fangirls should never feel embarrassed or ashamed for finding joy in the things they love!

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