Most people would not categorize fangirling as feminist.

They look at the huge marketing machine behind pop acts, set up to make as much money as possible off non-discerning young girls. They look at the less-than female-friendly lyrics of some pop songs, and the less-than female-friendly behaviour of some pop stars. And they conclude that fangirls are powerless players in all of this. 

That’s not the way I see them.

These teenage girls have created safe environments for each other at shows and have built activist communities online. They do exactly what they feel like, without explaining themselves or apologizing. To me, fangirls are utterly feminist.