Malaysian middle-aged women in a fandom of BIGBANG, a South Korean boy band.

What is it about?

Fandom is conventionally assumed to target younger audiences, teenagers or young adults but this arti- cle showcase that this is not the case and there are fans of all ages. This is not only evident in the BIGBANG fandom but also observed in the Twilight and One Direction fandom. This article studies the agency displayed by these women and how they shape their fandom in respect of their identity as spouses, parents and daughters. I also review how they negotiate their personal relationship with their families, acquaintances and younger fans in the fandom. The patriarchy system, religion and social expectations each play a role in influencing these women’s engagement with the fandom. Research on older fans is neither common nor abun- dantly available, thus this article hopes to contribute to the current literature on fandom.

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Why is it important?

Of particular focus in this article has been the manner in which fandom is evaluated and perceived based around gender norms and conventions, and attitudes towards age and appropriate interests ascribed to middle-aged women within Malaysian society.