Not Just Fans: The Essential Role of Fangirls in Music and Community

What if the biggest boost to an artist’s career—and an entire industry—came from the enthusiasm of fangirls we too often dismiss?

In movies, television, or in day-to-day conversations, teenage girls are stereotyped as being boy-obsessed fangirls, with posters covering their walls, and the names of their crush written in their notebook. This comes with the assumption that these girls are “obsessed” with these boys or bands because they’re “cute” or “hot.” This same way of thinking pictures teenage girls as naive and hysterical, with nothing else to focus on besides cute guys.

The Oxford dictionary defines a “fangirl” as: a female fan, especially one who is obsessive about comics, movies, music, or science fiction.

Too often does the media dismiss fangirls as obsessed and hysterical. It is no surprise that if they are defined as obsessed, that is how they will always be viewed. The word obsessive almost always carries a negative connotation, suggesting an excessive or unhealthy level of interest, suggesting that women are overly-emotional, a long-time negative stereotype of women.

“Teen girls are viewed as too much – as too emotional, too passionate, too invested, too expressive,” said Dr Briony Hannell, a sociologist at Sheffield University and an expert on fan culture.  

What Oxford, the media, or outside opinions might fail to consider is how impactful fangirls are to the cultural landscape of the music industry, success of musical artists, and even how they impact the economy. Fangirls are a positive and powerful force in the music industry, using their passions to garner supportive communities for girls and women across the world. 

In the modern era, the best example of these “crazed fangirls” is Swifties, or the fans of pop icon Taylor Swift. Online, thousands of comments criticize Taylor Swift and her fans, claiming girls are going crazy over mediocre music. Swifties consist of women and girls of all ages. As Taylor Swift continues to be at the forefront of the pop charts, new generations of girls have found joy in her music, and have attended the Eras Tour. 

According to the Economic Times, the Eras Tour has generated over $1.3 billion in revenue, making it the highest grossing tour ever, and it is not over yet. An article from Time magazine describes that women are willing to spend money on what brings them joy:

 “They are willingly spending on items that give them joy—like variants of vinyl records or Eras Tour tickets. Their shifting economic power directly contributes to the Taylor Swift craze and the local economic whirlwinds that follow her concerts across the globe.”

These fans aren’t just putting money in artists’ pockets; they are contributing to large earnings for local economies, including hotels, restaurants, and travel. 

In addition to sold-out arenas, fangirls are also the first to buy merchandise for the artists they love, boosting revenue. Fangirls’ spending power is a reliable income source for artists big and small, proving themselves to be pivotal to the entertainment industry and economy. 

Taylor Swift has given her fans a safe space and lyrics that resonate with a collective group of girls and women seeking connection.

The internet has opened the doors for fandoms to thrive. Whether the platform is TikTok, X, Reddit, online forums, or in-person friend groups, fangirls have created communities with one another to bond over their common interests. 

Fans are also using their creativity to share their love for artists. Fans on TikTok and Instagram make photo and video “edits,” which are video or photo clips edited together, sometimes with music, to make videos that trigger emotions. These accounts get thousands of followers, with other fans commenting their thoughts and finding people with similar interests on the same artist, show, or movie. 

These online communities are where many fans find communities they can’t find in their hometowns. ​​“As fans, we’re just showing support for the artists we love and the creators that make us feel happy,” said Bryana McDaniel, a fan who makes edits. Personally, BTS and K-pop in general, have taught me to accept myself for who I am and people in society don't realize that music can have that impact.”

This happiness and community does not come without critique. Online voices have shared their share of judgment toward fangirls. 

Hit the Floor posted a blog in 2013 during the height of the boyband One Direction discussing their input on their fans.  “Worryingly was the fact that all these ladies were either going through a midlife crisis, or through failure of trying to find their own independent identity,” said writer James Paul Matthew. “And we laugh at you now because you just do not realize how much you portray yourselves as a bunch of idiots.” 

A common misconception about fangirls is that they don’t have their own identity, and just have superficial obsessions over popular artists. The truth is, they make these artists popular. They support them, because they feel supported. 

“I met Bring Me the Horizon, and as soon as I left, I burst into tears because I just thought, ‘These people have no idea how much their lyrics and music gave me comfort when times were rough,” said Rachel Roberts, a self-described fangirl.

​​Growing up comes with a lot of hardship and pain. When I was going through hard times as a middle and high schooler, Harry Styles, The 1975, and LANY, just to name a few, brought me immense comfort through their music and helped me through hard times. I became a fan because I wanted to give back, and finding community in these shared experiences is an immeasurable blessing. Some of my favorite memories are sharing my favorite songs, waiting hours in line for a concert, or staying up late with friends to hear a new album.

Of course there are one-off fans who give your average fangirls a bad name, and who go too far, but these are not the majority. 

While the media portrays fan girls negatively, many artists recognize their value, and come to their defense. 

Rolling Stone magazine asked Harry Styles in an interview if he feels the need to prove himself as a serious artist and not just appeal to teenage girls. 

“You're gonna tell me they’re not serious? How can you say young girls don’t get it? They’re our future. Our future doctors, lawyers, mothers, presidents, they kind of keep the world going, responded Styles. “Teenage-girl fans – they don’t lie. If they like you, they’re there. They don’t act ‘too cool.’ They like you, and they tell you. Which is sick.”

Fangirls are far more than obsessed fans or simple consumers—they’re a driving force in the music industry, an economic powerhouse, and a source of community for countless girls and women. Despite criticism online, fangirls know that they are not merely obsessed; they show passion and love in an online era of negativity.