Groupies, Fangirls and Shippers: The Endurance of a Gender Stereotype

Abstract

The purpose of this special issue is to offer new perspectives on fan cultures which respond to changes and controversies that have happened since the last American Behavioral Scientist special issue on fandom was published, in 2005. But the aim of my contribution is to argue that, sadly, derisive-gendered discourses like ‘fangirls’, ‘groupies’ and ‘shippers’ are still alive and well. Returning to the kind of research conducted in the 1980s – when women’s experiences of feminized popular cultures began to be taken seriously – reminds us that their pleasures are no less derided or controversial four decades on. My findings also suggest that the enduring presence of older stereotypes within teen drama fandoms – particularly the ‘groupie’ – signals the agility of sexism, as the term can now be understood as more of a generational designation rather than a medium-specific one. This article is the product of three years of qualitative empirical research with ‘teen girl’ fandoms of three popular television shows: Pretty Little Liars, Revenge and The Vampire Diaries. The data it discusses includes Skype audio and video interviews, written interviews conducted via email and Facebook Messenger, along with overt social media observations.

Best Song ever - forever?

“…On the other hand, it might offer insights into how fans deal with stereotypes of being a female fan at a later age. Interestingly, studies have shown that the 'gender stereotype' endures and is even held in place by 'older' female fans towards younger female fans (Gerrard 2022). Referring to and deriding the younger women as 'fangirls', helps to create and establish a feeling of legitimacy for their own position as older fans, but also to make a distinction that the demographic targeted are the younger fans (Gerrard 2022).…”

“…Interestingly, studies have shown that the 'gender stereotype' endures and is even held in place by 'older' female fans towards younger female fans (Gerrard 2022). Referring to and deriding the younger women as 'fangirls', helps to create and establish a feeling of legitimacy for their own position as older fans, but also to make a distinction that the demographic targeted are the younger fans (Gerrard 2022). In Gerrard's study (2022) there seems to be a sense of ageism going on: framing the younger fans as controversial and doing so to generate a form of pleasure which leads to the older fan being an 'educator' of younger fans.…”

“…Although Tomlinson might praise his fans for their capabilities and dedication, the common understanding of 'fangirls' in today's world is still quite stereotypical (cf. Gerrard 2022;Yodovich 2016). Although previous research in fan and music studies illustrates how female fans indeed experience stigma and suffer from this label of 'fangirl' even into adulthood (i.e., Anderson 2004;Yodovich 2016;Vroomen 2004), this study aims to explore and clarify what these adult fans 'do' as fans.…”

“…Think about working a full-time job, starting a family, or living independently from their parents, becoming financially responsible for their own lives and household, or combining a career and family-life for example. Although there is a growing body of research on aging fans, these works discuss elderly fans (for example Van den Bulck and Van Gorp 2011) or older adults (for example Hills 2019;Anderson 2012;Vroomen 2004), while studies on young adults' continued fandom are emerging (Driessen 2015(Driessen , 2018Gerrard 2022;Yodovich 2016). More so, fandom and music play important roles in life events and milestones (Bielby and Harrington 2010Harrington , 2011Jennings and Gardner 2016;Istvandy 2019).…”

Communication Network Analysis K-Pop Fans Through the WhatsApp Group Application

“…It can be in the form of romance, friendship, family, and emotion. They always connect the activities of each idol as if they have a relationship with one another (Gerrard, 2021) shipper used in this research is a Blackpink fan named Jenlisa Universe. Jenlisa Universe is a shipper community that pairs Blackpink members Jennie and Lisa in a relationship.…”