In defence of fangirls

Tears of a passionate fan at Diljit's concert are worth a lot more

KARACHI:

The internet has found a new prey to pick on, as of late. I am, of course, referring to the viral clip of a fangirl weeping her heart out at a Diljit Dosanjh concert over the outro of his song Hass Hass, which features Sia. Unaware that she was being recorded, all the girl did was wring out emotions that best expressed her state of mind at the show.

However, internet trolls ran amok with her harmless vulnerability. From parody reels to verbal mockery, social media platforms saw it all. The general trend of memes ranged from exaggerated mimicry to mocking her by comparing her seemingly futile emotions to her male family members' alleged real-world problems.

While some users were swift in defending the fangirl online, the deriding virality became so rampant that Dosanjh himself had to step in. In a video clip shared to Instagram, the Punjabi singer took the stage once more and asserted that music is a matter of emotions and has often driven him to tears.

According to Dosanjh, only those with emotions are capable of crying. "A woman who knows her worth doesn't need validation—she shines bright enough to light her own way," he wrote in the caption of the post, resurrecting age-old arguments surrounding the matter of fangirls.

A timeless wrangle

Whether anyone admits it or not, fangirls or predominantly female-centric fanbases are deemed hysterical for their admiration of music acts. This is especially true in the case of boybands, such as the recent BTS and the older One Direction, or even just male singers in general, such as Justin Bieber in the early 2010s and now Dosanjh.

Mocking women for indulging interests that bring out a dedicated side to them is a tale as old as time. This visceral reaction is intriguing when contextualised by the fact that most fangirls are teenagers who are making memories to fondly look back on. Because trust me, my interests may have become more muted over the years, but that wouldn't stop me from revisiting them if I ever feel the need to.

I may no longer possess the energy to engage with them as passionately anymore, but I do not cower out of fear of how I'd be perceived for that. And even as I reminisce about my more ardent years, especially as a K-pop fan, I don't cringe or recall how terrible I was made to feel for liking certain things. In fact, I look back on my fandom-driven enthusiasm with fondness.

Cultural impact

However, as easy as it may be to confront these stereotypes now, that doesn't mean they no longer exist. As per a 2023 Sage Journals study conducted by Coleman and Lyons, music journalism has been prone to using specific terminology to describe the love that fangirls express for their favourite stars. Words like "hormonal" have made headlines.

Interestingly, the study also suggests that this misogyny establishes a "cultural hierarchy" that affects men as well. Boybands tend to lose credibility if they have a chiefly female fanbase because that fact boils them down to their soft looks, dismissing whatever talent they might possess.

Admittedly, though, musical critique comes with its nuances. Music journalism also understands the formula that is employed to ensure that an emerging boy band attracts notice of an army of fangirls. As per Medium, these pop groups are manufactured by record labels to indulge a sense of "courtship" through their lyrics that is sure to get hearts racing.

A number of songwriters are brought on board to achieve this success. Think of the amount of love songs One Direction and the brilliant minds behind the band have churned out. Visual appeal is also the reason why Wattpad has been able to capitalise on several Harry Styles fanfiction novels—some, like the After series, have even made it to the big screen.

Who else is harmed?

However, it has to be said that the negative ways in which fangirls and their interests are perceived reduces boybands to what can only be glimpsed at a surface level. Take for example how BTS is viewed by outsiders for how the members look and what their mainstream love songs sound like, just because they are adored by millions of fangirls.

A closer inspection of the group's music should show that it also advocates for mental well-being and tracks the strain of the journey that brought the members to this level of success. But no one is interested in that conversation.

Another example to ponder is Beatlemania. As per Varsity, the Beatles profited off the insurmountable love they received from their female fans, until the same fangirls were subjected to the scrutiny of male fans due to the contention that young women weren't "appreciating them properly".

It is as if an aspect of popular culture can only be sophisticated if it is not pervaded by fangirls. Yes, oftentimes obsessive fans take their fervour to dangerous lengths, causing them to become harmful to even those they idolise. But that shouldn't discount how the majority wishes to engage with their favourite virtuosos.

An enduring phenomenon

These bands and solo artists might have a loose grip on in-depth musicality, though even that is a subjective perception, but that shouldn't necessarily downplay what they inspire—be that a legion of female fans. In fact, fangirls impact most of what we understand about popular culture.

Their presence on social media platforms, such as Wattpad and Tumblr, is undeniable. From creative spaces to discursive sites, you are sure to find fangirls everywhere. Their sense of solidarity is ever-lasting and immune to the test of time.

As long as the entertainment industries of the world continue to promote boybands, our faith in the power of fangirls will remain strong. They'll always be here, and as evolving mindsets would have it, their proud existence might just eliminate social criticism overall.

So, yes. Boybands can be meaningful. Perhaps they are not for everyone, and that's okay. But there is definitely a reason why they mean so much to those they do inspire, if the virtual takeover on social media and the sea of concert audiences stand for anything at all.