I recently asked my lovely friend Millicent from Millicent Nankivell if she would like to help me while I don’t have as much time as I usually do to blog because of year 12 and she didn’t mind at all. Thank you Millicent for helping me out and I hope you enjoy this post that is all about fangirling!
Fangirling is Important!
I spent a while (read: a number of years) struggling with the fact that I was a fangirl. I would mourn when I would see screaming girls, crying and hyperventilating. I felt sorry for the poor people those girls were fangirling over! I didn’t want to be associated with that madness! I spent some time looking down my nose at fangirls, and feeling ashamed of the days when I had cosplayed as I went to Harry Potter book launch parties, swooned over Hanson, and did my hair like I was Sailor Moon.
For. Shame.
It all came to a head for me just over two years ago now, when I went to see My Chemical Romance (my favourite band these days!) at Festival Hall. I was doing my usual thing of looking down my nose at the other screaming fangirls, but when the music started playing and I could see my favourite band standing right in front of me? I lost it. There was screaming, tears, and a whole lot of flailing.
Ahh… “forget this nonsense!” I told myself. “I’m a fangirl, and I have got to stop feeling so ashamed about it, and I have got to stop judging others for their fangirling actions!”
(Don’t get me wrong – I still feel really bad for the different people that we all fangirl over!)
Even though I finally stopped denying my fangirling ways though, I still wrestled with the idea. A lot. Did it make me immature, the fact that I loved watching anime? Was I antisocial because I would rather spend my time with a good book than with my peers? Was I crazy for mentally dating Adrian Ivashkov? Well, yes to the latter, but perhaps that’s a story for another day.
Screenshot by me | Card Captor Sakura Movie 2It wasn’t until recently when I sat down with my good friend, Lisa, and was going between swooning because I had just met Nic Wheeler a few days prior, and tearing my hair out because I didn’t know what I was going to do about my blog (and had no idea what direction it was taking – or what direction I should be attempting to steer it in), that she gave me a level look and told me that others had been right. That same day I got to meet Nic (you can read about that over here, by the way), some other friends had told me that I should be writing about being a fangirl, and now Lisa was sitting before me telling me the same thing. But why?!
Photo taken by Lu of myself with Nic WheelerHow on Earth can fangirling be important?!
After I took a deep breath and asked that question with a slightly more rational tone, we started discussing it in depth, and I began to realise why being a fangirl was such a powerful and important thing. “Fangirl” is a term that is often used to be derogatory. Horrifyingly enough, it isn’t just men who use it as such either. Past!Me being exhibit A.
Women are made to feel small, or as though if they’re still a fangirl past a certain undefined age, they’re immature. Some women are capable of shrugging this off (kudos to you ♥), but the rest of us then in turn perpetuate this stupid idea – and I genuinely believe that it is often done out of fear, jealousy, and/or shame. Notice though how there isn’t really a stigma like this used against men? It’s generally okay for them to talk non-stop about sports (or whatever their “fan” obsession may be) without ridicule, but if women get passionate about something? They’re a fangirl and people look down their noses at them.
The keyword there though, was passionate. To be a fangirl, is to be passionate about something. To care, invest time, energy, and belief in something – no matter what it may be! I love books, art, anime, and music. I care deeply about those things, and have a strong connection to them, just like you (if you’re a fangirl, of course…) will have a strong connection to whatever you obsess (aka are passionate) over. It’s sad to think that society is so prepared to hate on people, and make them feel ashamed, simply because they care about something.
Yes, I do care about Draco Malfoy!! Screenshot by meI’m a strong believer in modelling and leading by example, rather than dancing around with signs in protest. So this is why these days, I am so proud to be twenty-seven years old and an active part of the fangirling community – regardless of what others might say or think! (All fights over Adrian Ivashkov need to be taken outside, okay? Just let me finish writing this first! Sheesh!) I just wanted to take this moment to tell you all to stay strong, keep on caring, love the haters, but love your awesome and amazing book boyfriends more, and to remind you that having passions is hugely important and sign of good character! Go you!
Also, the power of fangirls is pretty amazing. Hello Veronica Mars kickstarter, and now we’re even getting a Morganville Vampires web series! The things we can achieve! And to all the fanboys who read this? We all have mad love for you too, for supporting the things that we love as much as we do! Thank you! ♥
Thanks for giving me this opportunity to share my thoughts and generally ramble here, Angel! You live up to your name, for sure! ♥
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Ottilie Colter and the Narroway Hunt by Rhiannon Williams: This book is filled with friendships. What I especially like is how inclusive the friendships are—there are friendships between girls and boys, different ages, different backgrounds and so on. This is one of my favourite middle-grade books in general. And I think the fact the friendships are so strong plays a big role in that.
Wallflowers Series by Lisa Kleypas: I couldn’t make a list without including at least one romance book. While these are obviously about falling in love. It’s also really about the four women and their friendship with one another. Throughout the books, they are each other’s staunch supporters but are also there when a little bit of tough love is needed.
