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

[KoreanTacos]

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]

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.

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

[PlsDelMe]

Aren't most BL fans women to begin with

Maybe Internalized misogyny?

[joannekwan]

so it's still a thing huh? =/

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]

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.

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

[domisotto]

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]

My theory when it came to female consumers hating female characters, it’s the sense of rivalry.

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

[justasicanbesocruel]

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]

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.

That's so sad. =/

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

[justasicanbesocruel]

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]

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]

Anyone remember Gravitation?

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

[IndigoShirtProd]

Maybe Internalized misogyny?

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]

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

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

[domisotto]

Any overshadowing female that gets or makes a play for a guy she doesn’t ‘deserve’. It’s a good old prejudice. And I see attacks both on ‘but she doesn’t even do anything’ side and the ‘she is too over accomplished, it’s simply unbelievable’ side...

[justasicanbesocruel]

Same! I was like...12 when I read it. It was so glamourous and dramatic. But yeah. I outgrew it when I was like 15, lol! Looking back, it still pisses me off, lol. Learned a lot of no-nos with that one.

[PlsDelMe]

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.

Are you talking about the readers of Yaoi / BL ?

[WillowTree]

This has me wanting to re-read it! I haven't read Gravitation since I was a kid! A favorite of mine (when I was young!) was 'The Tyrant Falls in Love.' Like, as an adult, I see the very large red flags ALLLLLLL over that story, but I still enjoy re-reading it

[PlsDelMe]

Any overshadowing female that gets or makes a play for a guy she doesn’t ‘deserve’. It’s a good old prejudice. And I see attacks both on ‘but she doesn’t even do anything’ side and the ‘she is too over accomplished, it’s simply unbelievable’ side...

Did you watch Inuyasha? I feel like Kagome x Kikyou is an example of this, but maybe I'm wrong.

[justasicanbesocruel]

OMG. Every fandom ever. Here comes a female who a huge group hates because she's 'annoying' or 'doesn't deserve her (fill in the blank, power, status, what have you)', but what it really comes down to is the don't want her paired off with whatever male character she is obviously after or getting paired off with.