Kate's Fan Gender

[dreamer_easy]

I'm a fanboy. Doctor Who is an integral part of my being. I know a huge amount about it - fact and fiction - and can nitpick continuity or argue ratings with the best. I can slap someone down in an argument with facts and logic. I write fanfic which emphasises plot, concept, and background. I met my husband and numerous friends through our shared interest in Who.

I'm a fangirl. I love to squee with others about boys - whether it's my permanent thighsweats for McGann, or my crush of the moment. I'm a dilettante, discovering new texts and fandoms only to move on again, picking up jargon, conventions, and in-jokes along the way. I can defuse an argument with jokes and questions. I write fanfic which emphasises character, relationships, and sexuality. At cons, I'm more interested in socialising than discussing texts.

Discuss.

Comments

[barrington.livejournal.com]

Clearly a fanboygirl. And I'm kinda in both camps myself, though I'm more likely to squee over girls (Tara, Rose and Kaylee). My fan fiction explores either plot or character (or it did; been a long time since I wrote any), and I liked to socialise at cons and talk text at the same time.

Are we the fabled uberfans? Or am I building us up too much?

[ashamel.livejournal.com]

Not much in there seems particularly gendered to me. Except for the squeeing.

That's probably just me, though.

[peeeeeeet.livejournal.com]

Ditto. In fact by utter coincidence I came up with the perfect description for people like us, and then forgot to tell anyone about it. Are you ready?

Fandrogynous.

I'm sorry. My excuse is that I was in an eatery called "fishcoteque" at the time, and mine in a slight improvement.

[alryssa.livejournal.com]

OMG FAN GENDER STEREOTYPING.

[magslhalliday.livejournal.com]

sticking with fangrrl: like riotgrrl only about Who instead of rock music.

[majinbakahentai.livejournal.com]

I think if I went by those I'd be more of a fanboy - in most of my fandoms too.

[drox.livejournal.com]

Can I be both? I have some aspects of both, and I like my fics (the longer ones anyway - drabbles don't leave much room for world-building) to have well thought-out plots *and* characters with depth and relationships.

I like fanwank *and* squee.

[nnwest.livejournal.com]

I would have to agree with drox here. The new series has me firmly in both camps. Previously, I was firmly in the fanboy category. I loved the discussions about continuity and the tech of time travel. I would never have been caught dead squeeing.

They bring out the new series, all smart and sexy, and part of me is reduced to complete fangirl--squeeing over CEDoc, Rose, and now Jack. Got a crush on every one of them and wouldn't turn any of them down in any combination they were offered. Darn it, there are just too many sexy bodies in that TARDIS at the moment.

[antikythera.livejournal.com]

Ha! That's good...

When the first episode of new Who aired, I said out loud, 'Ooo, they used the classic typeface for the episode titles!'

In retrospect, I call it a fanboy moment. Even though I'm a girl. It's not a 'fangirl' thing to say, or even a 'fannish' thing to say, but distinctly 'fanboy'.

[kateorman.livejournal.com]

Of all the people who've responded, Brenda, I think you're the only one who got what I'm talking about. :-)

(The post was inspired by the occasional clashes between these two approaches to fandom.)

[magslhalliday.livejournal.com]

I got what you meant. I, however, disagree with the notion that there are two binary positions to take: I think as soon as you catagorise something in fandom, it becomes a label - usually used derogatively. C.F. rad/trad, frock/gun. I think using such binary definitions encourages the clash of the approaches rather than enables a debate. Female fans have enough walls to push over in order to escape the ghetto of "female fans" into the main city of "fans" without using gender stereotyping to catagorise responses to the series.

Hence my refusal to be either fanboyish of fangirlish. I am a fan. I respond both fannishly and girlishly to the series. Often simultaneously. Was I tearful at the 'chips' scene in TEotW because a) it had serious emotional intelligence and weight or b) it suggested the EDAs are canon*? Both. At the same time.

*don't even get started on the Faction-induced squeeing over the "Shadow Protocols". And, yes, I'm fairly sure it's co-incidence and not really a nod but authorial intent can get stuffed.

[kateorman.livejournal.com]

I got what you meant. I, however, disagree with the notion that there are two binary positions to take

No, you didn't get what I meant. :-)

[kateorman.livejournal.com]

NB - I got very excited because Brenda absolutely nailed what "fanboy" and "fangirl" are - modes, not genders. That's not to denigrate any of the other responses. I was delighted to see people claiming both modes for themselves, especially since my posting was prompted by a bunch of fanboys slagging off fangirling. :-)

[cherrypep.livejournal.com]

Gender stereotyping inaccurate?!!!11!one!?

...gosh!