A lot of BL / Yaoi fans hate women, but why?

PlsDelMe 2020-12-08 23:45:08 UTC #1

It's weird because the hatred goes beyond fictional women.

I KNOW THAT NOT ALL OF YOU HATE WOMEN.

thanks.

WillowTree 2020-12-08 23:47:31 UTC #2

I didn't know this was a thing...?

PlsDelMe 2020-12-08 23:49:22 UTC #3

I didn't know either, but then I joined a few groups of yaoi (amino, discord, reddit, etc) and the amount of misogyny is really sad.

WillowTree 2020-12-08 23:50:21 UTC #4

You might have better luck asking in those places, because I haven't really seen much misogyny on these forums at least

joannekwan 2020-12-08 23:52:22 UTC #5

As I understand it, in the context of a lot of the BL and yaoi of yesteryear, female characters were often there simply to get in the way of the main couple coming together. So a lot of hardcore fujoshi were trained into villainizing any female characters that pop up in a mxm story. Even my own female character got comments expressing suspicion over her motives when she barely appeared for a page (it was annoying).

I don't think that trope is as prevalent nowadays, I certainly hope not.

I don't know about real people hating though. Sounds like a personal problem for those misogynistic folks.

PlsDelMe 2020-12-08 23:53:09 UTC #6

I did, but they either ignored me, or said that I'm homophobic (I'm pan) this happens on Webtoon comments too, some readers wishing death on a random woman in the comic, just because she exists, she was just introduced.

KoreanTacos 2020-12-08 23:54:48 UTC #7

Aren't most BL fans women to begin with, probably need some more context as to what it is you're even talking about.

PlsDelMe 2020-12-08 23:55:24 UTC #8

THANK YOU!!! I saw something similar recently, so it's still a thing huh? =/

PlsDelMe 2020-12-08 23:55:53 UTC #9

Maybe Internalized misogyny?

joannekwan 2020-12-08 23:58:39 UTC #10

I suppose some creators still use that trope. They are most likely just regurgitating what they themselves have consumed and aren't aware of how they're perpetuating the demonization of women in BL. It's unfortunate, really.

PlsDelMe 2020-12-09 00:06:53 UTC #11

Makes a lot of sense, maybe I should avoid old yaoi manga then, thanks for your excellent answer Joanne.

domisotto 2020-12-09 00:07:08 UTC #12

My theory when it came to female consumers hating female characters, it’s the sense of rivalry. I saw men do that too, but in video games, on the male non-player characters that in any way overshadowed the protagonist. That’s why manly/powerful/opinionated male companions so often are settled with comic relief role or are ugly. Which was why love interests intended for female protagonists ended up such self-effacing types for so long.

PlsDelMe 2020-12-09 00:12:24 UTC #13

Interesting, then what about shoujo manga? otome games? romance novels? is the heroine irrelevant? I feel like "rivalry" explain their friendships tho.

justasicanbesocruel 2020-12-09 00:13:46 UTC #14

Really, most old manga has that troupe - either the girl best friend or the evil woman after the romantic interest. the crazy, absolutely unlikable love rival is such a troupe, man. I think we're starting to outgrow it for the most part and go for conflicts that aren't such easy targets, but the troupe is still out there going strong because it's easy conflict.

PlsDelMe 2020-12-09 00:16:53 UTC #15

That's so sad. =/

Old manga don't age well huh? btw thanks for the answer too.

justasicanbesocruel 2020-12-09 00:24:05 UTC #16

Some didn't age very well, but honestly it's always a trip reading the old stuff because you can really get a feel for how much the mainstream stuff for the genre has changed. For example, the grand majority of the old stuff was largely very feminine, young man and the tougher (mysterious) older guy (Anyone remember Gravitation? Bonus point if ya'll read the Demon Diary Manwha!) - the kind of stuff you would read in harlequin. That type is still pretty prevalent, but recently (past ten years for sure ) we're get a muuuuch bigger variety that's made the genre feel a lot more rounded. I personally am loving the rise of beefy bottoms~

SleepingPoppy 2020-12-09 00:27:28 UTC #17

I've always chalked it up to a weird toxic fandom thing when I hear about it? Like, in the instance of an actress getting hate because her character gets in the way of a ship. It's a weird and gross way to behave, and I can only hope these are young people that grow out of that kind of behavior. I don't know whats up with it though.

PlsDelMe 2020-12-09 00:27:54 UTC #18

I do, it's my introduction to yaoi, and it's so bad lmao. xD sorry if you like it.

IndigoShirtProd 2020-12-09 00:29:56 UTC #19

I don't think it's this. I'm pretty sure the introduction of a female love interest in an obviously BL or yaoi book feel s like a pointless distraction or a pull for cheap drama. Granted that's not the case in all stories because plenty of gay people (or any other sexuality) still have problems with accepting themselves for a variety of reasons and entering into a heterosexual relationship is a way, that I've heard of, to escape that acceptation. Though I am not speaking from experience so take what I say with a grain of salt.

PlsDelMe 2020-12-09 00:31:52 UTC #20

SUPERNATURAL FANDOM!!! o.O that sh1t happens there all the time, it's so awful.