The Rise Of ‘Fangirl Feminism’ And Pop Culture Activism
How popular musicians are raising a generation of empowered and politically-savvy women.
In the last decade, we’ve witnessed feminism’s rebrand in real time. What was traditionally considered the domain of 'angry, man-hating, hairy-armpitted extremists', is now a mainstream ideology.
Popular recording artists have played a huge part in the cultural reimagining of what it means to be a feminist, and destigmatising a label once considered toxic. These artists frequently centre a woman’s lived experience, call out sexism and double standards, and shine a light on harmful gendered expectations and behaviours.
‘Agreeable Activism’
By simply being a fan, women contribute to growing their favourite artists’ cultural capital, and legitimise their power and influence over societal attitudes. With the endorsement of millions of fans, artists can become a catalyst for real-world change and political progress.
Cultural Power Is Real
In a world that demands a lot more from brands than it once did - and artists are brands - talent just doesn’t cut it anymore. When you’re privileged enough to have a platform, the expectation is you’ll use it for good.
The most successful artists have strong and consistent personal brands. They’re not afraid to go public with their feminist opinions about everything from beauty standards to reproductive rights.
Whether through song lyrics, music videos, acceptance speeches, interviews, or their own social media presence, when the world's biggest pop stars use their platforms to speak up on important issues, they act as surrogates for the views and opinions of their largely female fan bases.
It's no wonder women develop such strong bonds with artist's they love: being part of a fan community can be one of the only places a they feel seen, heard, understood, and empowered.
‘Fangirl’ Is A Silencing Technique
We know the term fangirl is used to mock, dismiss, and infantilise women’s musical taste, but it's all the more sinister in the context of what fan communities provide to so many: safety, belonging, connection, self-expression and a sense of collective action.
When you mock a woman's taste in music, you imply that her opinions are wrong and/or invalid and maybe she should keep her true thoughts and feelings to herself. Who’s to say this self-silencing doesn’t bleed into other domains?
Attitudes Have Changed
A 2020 Pew Research study found 3 in 5 women say “feminist” describes them “very well” or “somewhat well.” The group most likely to identify as feminist was among women ages 18-29.
Young women are more educated about sexism and gendered double standards than ever before and the most successful artists reflect and amplify these progressive attitudes.
Politics Continues To Fail Women
Just one in four of the world’s national parliamentarians are women. At the current pace, it will take another 40 years to reach equal representation. Yeah… nah.
Women do not have a seat at the table when decisions being made about their lives and progress is slow, hard fought, and in some cases going backwards (Roe v Wade anyone?).
So, if you can’t beat ‘em, join a mega-fandom and use its cultural power to drive political progress.
Traditional Activism Isn’t Safe
In an increasingly hostile and polarising political climate, women could be forgiven for not wanting to express their opinions publicly. Of course, challenging something in real life can put you in a dangerous situation, but even online activism isn’t safe. According to the UN:
Women are considerably more likely [than men] to be victims of repeated and severe forms of harmful actions online.
Such attacks may lead women and girls to self-censor and limit their interactions online … pushing them again into silence. It undermines the network of support and solidarity created by women to show other women that they are not alone, even in the digital space.
