Men buy jerseys, paint themselves in the team’s colors, and scream as loud as they want for sports teams, but when women buy merch, defend celebrities online, and attend concerts, they are criticized.

Devotion to celebrities and fandoms is widespread, but its reception depends on who’s contributing. While men are often praised for their dedication as fans, women who express the same level of dedication are often stigmatized for it. According to NYU Press, fangirls are usually perceived as hysterical, rather than being taken seriously.

Inside a fandom

A fandom can be a community where people find happiness by admiring something with like-minded individuals, but it can often become a place where people feel pressured or uncomfortable.

“I define toxic as trolling, doxing, being unduly aggressive, exhibiting bigotry, or acting in a manner that is decidedly immature,” said Gayle Stever, a professor of social and behavioral sciences at Empire State University of New York.

Despite some fandoms being toxic, they provide psychological benefits that can positively affect human development.

“There are several psychological benefits. A fandom is a community, and having a sense of belongingness brings benefits in terms of self-esteem and reducing feelings of loneliness,” said Lynn Zubernis, a professor and licensed psychologist at West Chester University.

Loneliness was declared a public health epidemic in 2023 by the U.S. surgeon general and has continued to increase since then, accompanied by the rise of fandoms.

“We evolved to feel that being part of a group is necessary for our very survival, so being an accepted member of a group gives us a sense of safety. Fan communities can be a place for fans to be more real than in other domains of life, bringing a sense of validation as well,” Zubernis said.

Another factor contributing to the growth in fandoms is the expanding influence of social media, which makes it easier for people with similar interests to find one another and connect. In addition, these platforms can intensify negative dynamics within fandom communities, allowing harmful narratives and behavior to spread rapidly.

“In fan celebrity relationships, platforms like Cameo make it easier to interact more directly with favorite celebrities. This kind of thing is changing the face of fandom as well. Also, with respect to fake and toxic behavior, if you can talk directly with someone and use video, it is much harder for someone to hide behind a fake profile. It’s not impossible, but a great deal more difficult,” Stever said.

This increased access to celebrities doesn’t just affect interactions; it also shapes how communities behave. K-pop often receives criticism due to its reputation for being toxic, partly because of its massive fan base, exemplified by V&A. K-pop fandoms are often stereotyped as “crazy teenage girls.”

A study at MIT found that fake news spreads six times faster than real news, which is also apparent among fandoms. Hate about fandoms and within fandoms spreads more easily as access to the internet increases.

“K-pop is especially seen as toxic, but there are toxic fans in all fandoms,” said Jasmine Gee, the president of the Korean culture club at Carlmont.

According to the Korea JoongAng Daily, 70% to 90% of K-pop fans are female, with the exact percentage varying by country. The U.S. K-pop fan base is on the higher side, at approximately 90%.

“When people perceive K-pop fans as toxic or as people who are overly obsessive, I think that there’s a little bit of bias,” Gee said.

An article by Vox argues that teenage girls “drive popular culture forward and then get mocked for their tastes.” When young women value something, society tends to value it less. When something becomes mainstream because of girls, the public tends to react with criticism.

Some examples of this, in addition to K-pop, include romance novels, boy bands, and Taylor Swift.

Female Experiences

Taylor Swift has a reputation as one of the world’s most prominent musicians and also has one of the largest fan bases. The Washington Post describes her as a pop icon for teenage girls.

“Her fans are seen as crazy, and I think that stereotype comes from people thinking of girls that way, but you can’t base a whole group of people off of that,” said Lauren Ames, a sophomore at Sacred Heart Preparatory.

She noted that these assumptions don’t just shape how others view Swift’s fans but also how fans navigate social situations themselves.

“Whenever I’m in a new group with guys, talking about our interests, I almost feel hesitant to say, ‘Yes, I like listening to Taylor Swift,’ because I know I’m going to get mocked or ridiculed for something as basic as that,” Ames said.

Refinery29, a digital media and entertainment website for young women, states that women are pushed to feel embarrassed about liking certain things, reinforcing the idea that girls are “crazy” while boys are “passionate.”

“I think they’re doing all sorts of crazy things. They’re getting into fights over their teams. They’re defending it with their lives. But I feel like when Taylor Swift fans do something similar, like screaming when they see her, it’s seen as embarrassing,” Ames said.

Ames points out that reactions to male-dominated fandoms and female-dominated fandoms are not judged on the same scale, even when the behavior is similar.

“Everything that females take an interest in is dismissed in general,” Ames said.

Relating to sexism

“Many societies are misogynistic, and that translates into views on fans, too. It may be fine for an adult man to paint himself green and follow a football team from town to town, but if an adult female cosplays and lines up for days to attend a favorite media panel at Comic Con, that’s looked at differently,” Zubernis said.

Women are judged for things outside of fandoms as well due to a larger narrative that has always been present. The European Institute for Gender Equality says that sexism is linked to beliefs about the roles that women and men play in society, stereotyping women as homemakers.

“There tends to be more criticisms of ‘you should be at home taking care of your family’ for women in fandom than for men, the implication being that there is not the same latitude for doing things that could be considered ‘just for fun’ or ‘frivolous,’” Zubernis said.

According to Participations, a Journal of Audience and Reception Studies, fangirls often avoid using the word because of negative stereotypes perpetuated by men.

“Behind this shaming is a fear of women investing time and energy into things which do not benefit others, and perhaps a fear of female sexuality as well,” Zubernis said.

A study from Cambridge University shows that men who lack confidence often take women down to validate themselves. In relation to sexism, Swift has exemplified her dominance in the music industry. The Eras Tour was the highest-grossing concert in history with over $2 billion in sales, and Swift was the most-streamed artist on Spotify in 2023 and 2024.

A study from SSRN states that the most significant determinant of attitudes toward Taylor Swift is modern and hostile sexism, where advances by women are seen as a threat. Men often invalidate Swift’s success in her industry as a byproduct of “crazy teenage girls” rather than recognizing her skill, talent, and work ethic.

Sexist attitudes have influenced many aspects of society, shaping how people interact. Many factors contribute to undervaluing and mistreating women. Moving forward, it’s important to challenge harmful norms and ensure that everyone’s interests and perspectives are valued.

This story was originally published on Scot Scoop News on March 17, 2026.