Here now is the entire draft of the essay following the BME Framework. Included in the draft are bookend paragraphs.
Beginning
ARMY, the BTS fandom is very diverse. There is a strong perception though that the majority of the fans are women. These women fans of BTS range from teenage girls, young adults, adults and middle-aged women. Whatever stage of development and life cycle these women belong to, they all share a fervent love and support for BTS.
They buy merch, attend concerts and share stories about BTS. They meetup and organize events that celebrate BTS, their music and artistry. However, women are ridiculed and made fun of when others see them fangirling over BTS.
Why are women subjected to prejudice and bias when they derive joy and inspiration from being a fan? How do they cope and survive the harsh judgment and criticisms? Overall, what does BTS contribute to their personhood and general well-being? What the critics and haters fail to see is the creative and constructive ways women ARMY go about living the best they can not only for themselves but also for their family and community. Women ARMY despite being perceived by others in a derogatory manner have a deep connection with BTS and their fanbase which allows them to nurture joy and to continuously grow.
Middle
For non-fans of BTS, they may see the boy band simply as another pop group that rakes in millions of sales on commercially successful albums, content and merchandise. For ARMY, the songs, dances and performances, TV shows and interviews that BTS create and release on a regular schedule have deeper meaning beyond the earnings and economic gains. Their songs connect to ARMY on a very personal level.
These Bulletproof Boy Scouts, RM, Jin, SUGA, Jhope, Jimin, V and JK sing songs that represent their current state of mind, emotions and reflections in life. Their message on the struggles of change and growing up, acceptance of oneself and enduring the challenges of daily living are embedded in their songs. They sing about their own journey at the same time, they sing this message to ARMY. In this moment of connection, the idol and the fan are together. As ARMY and BTS believe, “We never walk alone.”
This connectedness is not magic. BTS is able to do this because their agency, Big Hit Music, has given them the space to create their own songs that capture their life story at a given stage in life. This active engagement between BTS and Big Hit Music emanates to the fandom. ARMYs are given an active role and interaction with BTS through fan meetups, social media convo, live streaming, behind the scenes videos of performances, anniversary shows that allow fans to write and communicate with each other.
No wonder, ARMYs are very much invested in BTS. The loyalty is deep. Their devotion is endless. However, ARMYs who are women, they get harsh criticisms for this love and unwavering support for BTS. This is a dangerous phenomenon both for BTS and ARMYs. The substance and relevance in the songs of BTS are downplayed when biases and prejudice ring louder than the message of being an authentic human being. For teenage girls and middle aged women fangirling over BTS, they are stereotyped as rabid fangirls who are only capable of forming superficial and exaggerated connections with the media (Varma, 2018).
On the contrary, the connection that BTS have with ARMY, is born from respect. BTS has a high regard for their fans which is seen in how they render the best versions of themselves in every album drop, video, show and concert. The group does not look down on their fans nor do they see them as mere buyers of their product. They make their fans feel important, seen and loved especially the females in the fandom. According to Michelle Fan, “their refusal to condescend to the female gaze, instead striving to delight and inspire their audience by constantly doing and creating better in their honour.” The effect is reciprocal. ARMYs from all over the world are capable of staging events, projects and activities that benefit themselves and their communities.
One fanbase, the Titas of BTS, a group of middle aged female fans of BTS have been conducting ARMY events that foster community building and projects on self improvement. Another fanbase, Team Hallyu, a group of mental health practitioners makes use of the fanbase approach to mental health. Many of their decompression sessions and meditation activities center on selected BTS songs that speak of growth and healing. ARMYs on their own volition went back to the hobbies they put aside when they were young. They were able to find joy again while some were successful at starting a business from these hobbies.
End
Girls and women are stereotyped as screaming and scandalous fans over Kpop groups and other musicians, idols and artists. If you see them hysterical watching a basketball game or a soccer match, would others typecast them as shallow and irrelevant? The prejudice on women fangirls is deeply rooted in the biases of a person and society. By continuing to do work and fangirling experiences that both benefit the fangirl and the fandom, the way women fangirls of any age are perceived may slowly change. In the end, it is the means that will justify the end.
The next time you see a fangirl, hold your tongue. Step back and ask yourself, what makes me any different from her who goes crazy over a persona, a group or a hobby who feels and acts the same?
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