Imagine a fan dancing to a BTS song.
Imagine a fan screaming at a Taylor Swift concert.
Imagine a fan jumping over Lionel Messi’s victory.
Imagine a fan cheering for Iron Man in Avengers: Endgame.
‘Fan’ is a genderfluid, collective identity, yet most would’ve imagined a girl in the first two instances and a guy in the latter two.
That’s because fandom, as a sociocultural phenomenon, comes with its own subcultures. These shape how the group behaves and defines itself—including whether it centers on a male or female lead.
In addition to the perceived composition of these groups, it is the fans’ modes of expression that prompt broader assumptions about group identity and its association with a particular gender.
If one is to look closely, dancing or jumping with joy aren’t too far apart, neither are screaming or cheering. But dance and screaming are stereotypically associated as expressions that “female fans” are expected to use.
The marginalization of female-coded fan expressions within fandom culture became the catalyst for a split into distinct categories of fan participation and expression: fandom and fangirling.
Shallow-Dive:
This divide may seem relatively new, but has been right under our noses since decades, disguised under era appropriate lingo. The subjugation and belittling of female fans and their fan expressions was first documented in the 60s & 70s when they were referred to as ‘groupies’. It was a term widely used for female fans of male singers. It was used to devalue them and label them as obsessed (and sexually attracted) to the artists and not the art.
Although the term has been retired, the negative stereotypes attached to it have only carried throughout and placed with newer terms. Some stereotypes regarding groupies and fangirls are: Overt excitement, being invested in the artist’s life outside of their art, expressing a deeper connection, feelings of playful attraction towards them, inclusion of their art in home décor, etc.
Is it really just for the fangirls though?
Same Passion, Different Packaging:
The eventual gendered-coded fan expression isn’t far off from being grounded under the same root. Both include:
i. Investing in the artist:
Taking a keen interest in their whereabouts, outside of their work. Often being interested in their personal life. Accumulating in-depth knowledge about them, that’s enough to defend them when someone disses them.
ii. Fictionalizing:
Writing fanfictions is a stereotype attached to fangirling but, a similar behavior that men lead fandoms engage in is presenting their conspiracy theories about the artists/art on social media. The only difference is the form and the medium, visual vs literary.
iii. Shipping Favourites:
Another accusation fangirls become a target of is shipping – the act of liking & supporting two characters together romantically.
The argument often heard against the act is that the focus shouldn’t be on who ends up with whom, rather the entire narrative and the story arc. But, it gets contradicted the moment a fan-favourite male character doesn’t end up with the fan-favourite female character; they were long-linked throughout the show.
For example, [spoiler alert]
In the American show ‘How I Met Your Mother’, when Robin and Barney end up getting divorced, all the fans were disheartened but male fans instantly jumped on the ‘Robin-bashing’ train, claiming her to be the ‘worst character’ on the show or ‘not good enough’ for either of the guys (Barney & Ted).
iv. Personal Spaces:
Fangirls often decorate their spaces with pieces from their favourite artists, in the form of song lyrics – photo frames, posters, color-coded aesthetics, etc. This falls under another category stereotypically associated with women – home décor. But a similar act that men use to display their liking is collecting figurines, collectibles like Trading / Trump cards, etc. affiliated to their favourite artists.
Aside from the many similarities, there are some prominent differences on the flip side. Let’s drive to the other end of the spectrum!
Same Love, Different Conduct:
Fan expressions are gendered, primarily because of the previously discussed social stigma attached with the fan culture. But another equally strong aspect is the ‘norms of masculinity’. They are often scared of being scrutinized for their metrosexuality – a more outwardly feminine conduct, and homohysteria – pertaining to the fear of being labelled gay, based on interests and expression.
This shapes some of their fan behaviours, that manifest as:
i. Holier than Thou:
Men often try to disassociate from female dominated subcultures. It doesn’t stop at that, they also make it seem inferior, often ostracizing the expression of fangirls, while they would engage in the same (or inflated) expression.
For example, the discourse of fandoms engaging in theatre vandalism at ‘Minecraft’ screenings vs fangirls forming dance circles at Taylor Swift’s ‘Eras Tour’ screenings.
Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour has been so successful that right after the America leg of the tour was over, the documentary screening had a theatre release. Fans were seen singing along to the songs on top of their lungs, while forming a singing circle in front of the movie screen. This action was heavily trolled online, particularly by men.
Then this happened –
Screening of the latest minecraft movie has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. From fans throwing popcorn and cold drinks up in the air to; them bringing live chicken to release during a particular scene. This resulted in several complaints and theaters issuing warnings. The movie witnessed a male-heavy audience.
Vandalising a theatre is not a problematic fan expression but a singing circle is?
When men do enter these spaces, they bring a shift in power dynamics.
For example, labelling an artists’ work as their ‘cringe era’, when they have a more active female fanbase. But gatekeeping the artists as exclusive after joining the female-dominated fandom. Ed Sheeran and The Beatles fandoms have witnessed this shift.
ii. True Fan Syndrome:
The moment a woman shows an interest in a male lead fandom, they feel a need to counter the women with questions to ‘test’ their knowledge to see whether they are a general fan (on the sidelines) or part of the fandom.
‘Only a true fan will know this’.
While, when a man shows an interest in a female lead fandom, they are welcomed open heartedly.
iii. You Love, I Hate:
Whenever any piece of media garners traction from fangirls, men from other fandoms start a comparison narrative, start dissing it, question its credibility, label it wrongfully, etc.
Who can forget the 2023 summer? The Barenheimer Era. While fangirls were awaiting the Barbie movie to release, male operated fandoms were awaiting Oppenheimer (set to release on the same day). The marketing campaigns from both the production houses ran cordially, even posting about ‘Barbenhiemer’ in goodwill. But the fandoms left no stone unturned, making it into a rivalry. Fangirls though, were unbothered in their own lanes.
On a macro level, we have witnessed numerous movies & shows being mislabeled as ‘chick flicks’ or ‘rom-com’ just because they have a massive female following. Women-centric narratives are deduced to only two labels.
iv. Super-hegemonic:
One doesn’t have to be a fan to know that Marvel Comic Universe (MCU) and Detective Comic Universe (DCU) are the biggest Superhero movie productions. There is little to no discourse on which universe is better because, a majority sides with MCU, without dissing DCU.
What’s alarming is the female representation in these universes. MCU has only 24 female characters, this includes supporting characters, sub-plot characters, everyone. The DCU has 51, which is more than double of MCU but not enough, the bar is low.
While, there are no heavy fandom wars between the two, there’s an unsaid or rather, established rule that MCU has to be the preference. For those men, picking DCU over MCU, are charged by their fandoms, as its seemingly a non-manly choice. This phenomenon is called ‘Intra-fan dynamics’ – othering of a sub-sect within the fandom.
Intra-fan dynamics have a deeper infiltration in the Fangirling subcultures. From the negative stereotypes to invalidated credibility, fangirls have a hard time not trying to other themselves from those who fit the stereotypes bang on. Sadly, even fangirling subcultures can’t keep sexism at bay.
Fan Clubs, but make it Wholesome:
A few cents before parting.
Stereotypical or atypical, fangirl or fanboy, flexible or intense, what binds everyone together is the passion for the art and the artist!
Instead of obsessing over other fandoms, let’s just embrace one’s own.
‘Just unbothered, hydrated, in my lane’.
Because… ‘In the clerb, we all fam!’
