The stereotype of the “15-year-old fangirl” sets us back and needs to die
“BTS has one of the largest ARMYs on planet Earth; historic moment, it actually marks the first time 15-year old girls everywhere found themselves wishing that they were [UN] Secretary General António Guterres.” — James Corden’s monologue on his show the Late Late with James Corden
This was one of the two remarks that highlighted what ARMYs everywhere have to deal with on a daily basis just because they.. love music?
The stereotypical narrative of the crazy, screaming 15-year-old fangirl that love xyz boy band needs to die. It has become a tasteless go-to joke that does no one any good whatsoever.
First things to address is the 15-year-olds in question; what’s wrong with being 15? With having any interest in music, movies, books, or arts in general? Do those things have an age threshold that girls need to cross in order to “understand” such arts, or to be taken seriously?
I’m not gonna bore you with numbers and statistics to back up the fact that BTS fans are not just young females who are just as valid in their content consumption as an adult male that walks around with a dude’s name on the back of his shirt — but I am going to share that, given the sold out stadium tours world wide, sold out cars, flip phones, expensive jewelry and tea, their insane social media reach and the vastly growing list of celebrities of all age, ethnicity and sexual orientation, it is beyond time to retire the notion.
For such an important topic as the one BTS talked about on their United Nations speech — the one which James Corden failed to even mention, or the fact that they were not indeed “unusual visitors” but on their 3rd time addressing the UN — it is beyond frustrating that to this day young girls are not taken seriously due to their age.
And that brings us to the age group of BTS fans. Labeling such a diverse and large group of people, who are not predominately white teenage girls, as “15-year-olds” fails to highlight the power of ARMY. We come in all shapes and sizes, all age groups, all different backgrounds — whether educational, religious, economic, geographical etc. That’s what makes us powerful; we have the ability to come together despite our differences. Being 50-years-old and 15-years-old means nothing when it comes to fighting for equality, for climate change, for education, against racism and xenophobia, for gay rights, for everyone’s right to enjoy the things that bring them joy and make them happy, freely. Without invalidating their opinions because of the music they listen to. Or the band they support.
It’s something that many fail to realize but will use it as a tool to belittle others because this narrative has overstayed its welcome.
Like BTS mentioned on their speech, it’s time we become the welcome generation.
