One Direction. By this point, every person on planet Earth with a working internet connection and a basic knowledge of current popular culture knows who One Direction are. For those whose knowledge of popular culture still remains in the 1980s, One Direction is a British and Irish pop group formed on a UK television show called, "The X Factor" (think “American Idol”) in 2010. Even if you are not a fan of One Direction’s music, you have to admit they are a force to be reckoned with.
In the five years since One Direction has been a band, they have sold over 50 million albums worldwide, have hit the number one position on charts in over 91 different countries and have played shows to over 7.5 million fans all over the globe. On the first day of its release, (or should I say night) 1D’s latest single, ‘Drag Me Down,’ reached number one in 82 different countries, marking it as the fastest selling single of 2015. ‘Drag Me Down’ also holds the Spotify record for the greatest number of streams in one day, counting in, at an incredible 4.75 million plays globally. Statistically, One Direction is a powerhouse. They are one of the biggest bands in the world, and yet, they are written off by music critics as well as average listeners. Why would a band that is averaging in numbers like this still be considered just a boy band? Surprisingly, it has nothing to do with the band. It has to do with the fans.
One Direction's fan base primarily consists of females in the teen and tween age range. Historically, american society has never taken females seriously, especially females in the teen and tween age range: their problems are not taken seriously, their dislikes are not taken seriously, and their likes are not taken seriously. Therefore, when a band has a fan base of females, that band is not taken seriously. Especially when the band is male. If One Direction's fan base was half-male, half-female, they would be thought of in a much more positive light. When a group of men scream and flail over a football game, no one questions it. What is the difference?
Having female fans should not be condemning to a band and being a "fangirl" should not be something to be ashamed about. A woman being excited over something as special as music is not a negative, but constantly and consistently, society derides these fans for being passionate about a band they love. Mainstream media even tries to suggest that these females do not like One Direction for their music, but rather for their appearance. It is unbelievable to some people that a female could genuinely like a band for their talent instead of how they look. This is ridiculous because a) you cannot listen to a band's faces and b) these musicians would not be as incredibly successful if all they could do was ride on their looks.
For those who have written One Direction or any other pop act off for their fans, I suggest you sit down and take a listen, watch some live performances and read up about a band's success before you judge them because their fans are female. And for those female fans, keep being passionate, keep being excited, and do not let anyone drag you down.
One Direction's statistics found at: http://www.modestmanagement.com/one-direction
