The Broads Who Blog: Gender and Fannish Expression in the Buffyverse fandom

Abstract

Not all online fan spaces are segregated by sex. Numerous online sites exist that combine discussion, news, and creative works, and the balance of male and female users may vary by site and topic. If the site focuses on fanfic production and archiving though, the readership tends to be overwhelmingly female, even though recent studies have shown that the balance of men and women online is now nearly equal The Buffverse fandom, composed of fans of the television series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel", is a particularly interesting case study for this sort of segregation. By the nature of the series’ texts and their feminist philosophy and depictions, one might expect the shows to attract viewers and fans who respond positively to women’s contributions and participation in its fandom. This essay explores three issues. Who it is that calls themselves a fan of the Buffyverse? Who becomes a fanfic writer? Lastly, what activities do they engage in and what experiences do they have within the fandom? The following sections will discuss the results of a fandom survey conducted in November 2006 to discover the answers to these three questions