Comic-Con 2013 Pat Loika There are a few things that I love, that I'm very enthusiastic about. Riot Grrrl, feminism, comedy, Monkey Island. But I would never dare call myself a 'fangirl' of anything. Not because I think it's derogatory (fan woman sounds kind of silly) but because a fangirl is, to me, a very specific person that - while I might 'fangirl out' over something - I don't qualify as. She is a woman (or girl) who has great knowledge of something - usually comic based - which she can discuss enthusiastically and will travel great lengths to feed this passion. It might seem extreme to some people who have other passions - but while we might smirk at men who attend Comic Cons and spend huge amounts of money on toys (ACTION FIGURES) and assume they have difficulty meeting women (see Big Bang Theory) we don't hate them.
However it seems, of course, we hate fangirls! Because, while I have friends who buy comics, watch sci-fi and identify as geeks or nerds, I don't know much about this world I was surprised to learn this. However, yesterday The Mary-Sue reposted a blog in which Greg Rucka expressed his frustration over what Jill Pantozzi calls "gatekeeping of women in Geek Culture".
Rucka was reacting to a T-shirt for sale at WonderCon. The T-shirt says "I like my fangirls how I like my coffee. I hate coffee". HA! HAHAHA! It's funny because WHO HATES COFFEE, right?! Right?!
Of course not. It seems women aren't totally welcome at these conventions. "some asshole thinks selling a shirt that, essentially, says, GURLS STAY OUT is funny. He’s talking to my wife. He’s talking to my daughter. He’s talking to my friends. He’s talking to my fans. He’s talking to some of the best writers in the industry, some of the most gifted artists, some of the most talented creators in the arts. GURLS STAY OUT. Heh heh heh."
Rucka was reacting to a T-shirt for sale at WonderCon. The T-shirt says "I like my fangirls how I like my coffee. I hate coffee". HA! HAHAHA! It's funny because WHO HATES COFFEE, right?! Right?!
Of course not. It seems women aren't totally welcome at these conventions. "some asshole thinks selling a shirt that, essentially, says, GURLS STAY OUT is funny. He’s talking to my wife. He’s talking to my daughter. He’s talking to my friends. He’s talking to my fans. He’s talking to some of the best writers in the industry, some of the most gifted artists, some of the most talented creators in the arts. GURLS STAY OUT. Heh heh heh."
| Urban Dictionary's top definition for fangirl is hostile: "A rabid breed of human female who is obesessed with either a fictional character or an actor. Similar to the breed of fanboy. Fangirls congregate at anime conventions and livejournal. Have been known to glomp, grope, and tackle when encountering said obesessions [sic]." | I do know a lot about misogyny masquerading as humour at which women are supposed to laugh, to banter over and to leave. |
It seems there is a line. I know I have been praised for liking the right bands and playing the right game (I sincerely only play Monkey Island - I should be admonished for lacking the imagination to seek out similar games) and thinking the right things silly. And while I happen to agree these are the right things I am patronised by the approval. The approval usually stems from my liking these things just the right amount.
This is perhaps why I'd missed the fangirl hostility. Which is silly, because I've seen it. I've seen it in TV shows where a girl with an enthusiasm for something usually reserved (reserved?!) for geek boys is treated as freakish. I've seen it in the webcomic Something Positive in which the Spay your Catgirl poster was frequently promoted. Subcultures are assumed to be safe spaces. Subcultures are not safe spaces.
If a band I love is in town I will go and see them. I would not, however, traverse the globe. That would make me 'crazy' (and broke, mostly broke). If a man (and I do know men who have traversed the globe/country for a band) did that he would be broke and a serious fan. A proper fan.
The online Oxford Dictionary definition of fangirl is a little more accommodating: "A female fan, especially one who is obsessive about comics, film, music, or science fiction:your average fangirl, despite the implication of the name, is a grown-up".
As I say, I don't know much about this world of ComicCons very well. I do know a lot about misogyny masquerading as humour at which women are supposed to laugh, to banter over and to leave.
As Rucka says: "This fandom, that fandom, guess what? It doesn't belong to you.
You don't own it. You partake in it. It's called community.
You want something to be your thing, make a club, build a tree-fort, and do us a favor. Don't come down."
I don't think the fangirls are going anywhere. So if you're scared of fangirls, if you're scared of sharing with them, of talking to them, of welcoming them...well, you better get building that tree house.
Squeamish Kate
This is perhaps why I'd missed the fangirl hostility. Which is silly, because I've seen it. I've seen it in TV shows where a girl with an enthusiasm for something usually reserved (reserved?!) for geek boys is treated as freakish. I've seen it in the webcomic Something Positive in which the Spay your Catgirl poster was frequently promoted. Subcultures are assumed to be safe spaces. Subcultures are not safe spaces.
If a band I love is in town I will go and see them. I would not, however, traverse the globe. That would make me 'crazy' (and broke, mostly broke). If a man (and I do know men who have traversed the globe/country for a band) did that he would be broke and a serious fan. A proper fan.
The online Oxford Dictionary definition of fangirl is a little more accommodating: "A female fan, especially one who is obsessive about comics, film, music, or science fiction:your average fangirl, despite the implication of the name, is a grown-up".
As I say, I don't know much about this world of ComicCons very well. I do know a lot about misogyny masquerading as humour at which women are supposed to laugh, to banter over and to leave.
As Rucka says: "This fandom, that fandom, guess what? It doesn't belong to you.
You don't own it. You partake in it. It's called community.
You want something to be your thing, make a club, build a tree-fort, and do us a favor. Don't come down."
I don't think the fangirls are going anywhere. So if you're scared of fangirls, if you're scared of sharing with them, of talking to them, of welcoming them...well, you better get building that tree house.
Squeamish Kate
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