When USA Today announced it was looking for a full-time Taylor Swift writer, thousands of people flocked to apply for the position.

“We are looking for an energetic writer, photographer, and social media pro who can quench an undeniable thirst for all things Taylor Swift,” the job posting read.

Getting paid to constantly talk about Taylor Swift is every Swiftie’s dream, including mine. Last week, USA Today revealed its chosen candidate for the position, and people were shocked to find they hired a man.

 

Now don’t get me wrong. I am sure Bryan West loves Taylor Swift’s music as much as the next person, but no matter how much criticism he faces for getting this position, it doesn’t compare to the criticism fangirls receive for their respective obsessions.

I got my first radio when I was six years old for Christmas. It was white and covered in pastel pink flowers and I carried it everywhere. Collecting One Direction and Taylor Swift CDs, I would listen to music all day, every day. Then I discovered concerts, and it was game over.

When I started frequently attending concerts as a senior in high school, I quickly discovered the negative connotations around being a “fangirl.” Some words I have been called by my fellow peers for being a fan are obsessive, psychotic, and mentally ill.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a “fangirl” as “a girl or woman who is an extremely or overly enthusiastic fan of someone or something.”  I would consider myself an enthusiastic fan of my favorite artists, but why do the words “extremely” and “overly” have to precede my personal interests?  

While women are consistently criticized for showing their love for something, men are praised for their love of a team or game even as they exude the same behavior as “fangirls.” Recently, I have begun to notice more and more men on my social media feed singing along to some of my favorite artists’ songs and getting praised for liking the same music as myself.

Last year I went to my third Harry Styles concert in Chicago, and quite a few people asked me why I saw the same artist multiple times as “it is the same concert every time.” I could say the same thing about sporting events I watch people go to every weekend.

Camping for a good spot in the pit? Crazy. Tailgating for 8 hours before a football game? Passionate. Spending $700 on a floor ticket for the Eras Tour? Crazy. Spending $1000 on an NBA Finals ticket? Passionate. I could go on.

I am always told to pick a career based on something I am passionate about. Career opportunities for sports fans have always been around in the form of reporters, sports agents, sports management, and more. With the rise of fangirls also comes the rise in jobs catering toward their interests, but instead of the music industry being filled with these same girls, it is predominantly men. In 2022, it was reported that only 3.4% of music producers were female.

When the Beatles first rose in popularity, they were mainly seen as a boy band catered toward a younger, female audience. Fast forward to 2023, and their music is seen as legendary across the globe. Their first fans knew that their music was fantastic, but they were not taken seriously because people thought they were just fangirls who considered the band members cute.

“Who’s to say that young girls who like pop music —  short for popular, right? -– have worse musical taste than a 30-year-old hipster guy?” Harry Styles said in a Rolling Stones interview. “Young girls like the Beatles. You’re going to tell me they’re not serious?”  

Being a fangirl should not be something society criticizes. I have met so many girls from across the world who share the same passion for an artist’s music as myself, and that is something to celebrate, not criticize.