People love what they love because of how it moves them.
Whether it be TV, movies, music, or sports, our hearts latch onto something because it has power over our emotions. No matter how chill you say you are, everyone has that thing they care about a lot—the thing that will get them unexpectedly mad, emotional, or happy when you mention it.
Having hobbies and things you’re passionate about is essential. It’s part of why we work and endure hardship. It’s all for that sweet reward at the end of the day, the rush of dopamine that comes from being a part of something.
Somehow, what’s acceptable to care about is politicized in some ways.
In today’s media landscape, there are still some things that are “cringe” to enjoy, and that are seen as annoying to be passionate about.
A dedicated member of the Beyhive looks different than a ride-or-die Red Sox fan. The most outspoken boyband fans look wild compared to football fans during the Superbowl. There’s something that appears vapid about fangirls and their passions, and shallow about the people who would write for hours about shows they like, compared to soccer fans during the World Cup.
I’m sure anyone who doesn’t know much about sports has felt confused, alienated, or even scared when at a sports bar during a big game. You enter the place because you’re in the mood for chicken wings, and suddenly you’re shoulder to shoulder with the most outrageous fans on the planet. You’re terrified by the fights between rival fans and excitement when a goal is scored or a good manoeuvre is pulled off.
The key here is there isn’t much of a difference between Beyoncé fans and Manchester United fans.
We all pay exorbitant amounts of money to go to live events, we all spend way too many hours analysing our idols’ next moves, and we all scream as loudly as possible at concerts, at games, and at our TVs when the most exciting moments happen.
The difference is the gendered perception of these fans. For the most part, if you were to imagine a boyband fanatic, you’d think of a younger woman—someone with free time, less responsibility, and more passion—and if you were asked to imagine a sports fan, you’d think of an older man, maybe with a job, a family, and responsibilities.
The truth is anyone can enjoy anything. There’s no inherent harm in being a fan, and there’s no difference in fan behaviour. The most toxic celebrity fans can be just as wild as the most poisonous sports fans.
The difference in how fanaticism is received all comes from the arbitrary gendered separation of hobbies. It’s something so minute and so artificial, it’s ridiculous when you break it down. What matters most is how you treat others, and unlearning the subtle ways misogyny weaves its way into our lives and how we see the world.
It doesn’t matter why you watched the Superbowl, whether it was to watch the Kansas City Chiefs win or to see Rihanna make her big performance comeback.
Passion makes the world go round, and we’re all fangirls at heart.
Tags
Beyonce, Boybands, concerts, Fangirls, Sport games
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