Aqua:
This is such an interesting discussion, thank you for opening this up.
Have to answer here again because MDL is saying your answer to my too long answer is too long too XD lol Yes, I can see what you're saying, majority of BLs have moved away presenting a 'heteronormative' perspective of a masc/feminine pairing, which is good, because while feminine gay men do exist 100%, they are not the absolute example of gay men by any measure the genre needed to grow to match LGBTQ standards and more and more it's been happening, so it's good. But over all, you point still stands as valid, that could be one of the reasons for sure.
autumn iris:
I think there are multiple reason on why females watch BL;
It could be because the romance is (more often than not) really heart-wrenching
It could be because the overall plot is interesting
It could be because watching two handsome guys kissing is thrilling
It could be because it's something new for some people, anything new is usually attractive
It could also be because it's currently trending, like they fomo
It could also be because the mascot is cute (like polcasan)
But most of the time, it's just because the actor is handsome haha
And some said it's because sex always sells? Compared to straight romance dramas which are more conservative in general, at least half BL dramas are having such scene.
Point 3, 7 and your last sentence basically leans into my stated reason, when you put watching for entertainment aside, the next draw card is female het viewers being attracted to men and wanting to see two men together on screen (whether it's fluff, romance or something more explicitly sexual), because, simply put, it's hot.
As mentioned by another user, I also think point 4 is a good one, people like to watch something new or as the other user said, they can't experience themselves, I think that's a valid one for sure.
I can't agree with point 1 because plenty of media offers emotionally deep stories with het couples (if they don't find them perhaps they aren't looking), but many BL/LGBTQ viewers won't watch them even if they do find them and sometimes I've seen het females get into heterophobic arguments about het shows, on here and other platforms. But those same het females will watch BLs and as to my original post, those het women turning to BLs will speak about not seeing the appeal men irl, so that's where my curiosity came in.
People watching for trends is fleeting. I don't think they count.
I have no idea about mascots, BL mascots? That's a thing? What, like, even does that do? lol Like, what is the purpose of such a thing?
those het women turning to BLs will speak about not seeing the appeal men irl, sLyson:
just my 2 cents, maybe it's because these women has set the standards too high (using the male leads in BL shows as basis) that's why they don't find the appeal in men in real life? and by standards, it's not just looks but how they act towards their other half in the series, or even family/friends. after all, a series can portray a perfect man
jazme:
just my 2 cents, maybe it's because these women has set the standards too high (using the male leads in BL shows as basis) that's why they don't find the appeal in men in real life? and by standards, it's not just looks but how they act towards their other half in the series, or even family/friends. after all, a series can portray a perfect man
I don't want to quote exactly what the comments I saw were saying about men, but it was specifically sexual, not emotional or talking about male mindset toxicity and all those other topics that have a whole generation of women (validly in some cases and not in other cases) disliking men in general these days. It was a physically sexual based discussion, they were basically saying the idea of physically having to touch men made them feel ick. Any thoughts?
I don't want to quote exactly what the comments I saw were saying about men, but it was specifically sexual, not emotional or talking about male mindset toxicity and all those other topics that have a whole generation of women (validly in some cases and not in other cases) disliking men in general these days. It was a physically sexual based discussion, they were basically saying the idea of physically having to touch men made them feel ick. Any thoughts?
same with what Aqua said. it just seems contradictory that they are there to admire the handsome men and yet feel ick thinking of having intimate relations with them irl. or maybe they are just more of voyeurs who enjoy the show but thinking that it's gross when done irl.
same with what Aqua said. it just seems contradictory that they are there to admire the handsome men and yet feel ick thinking of having intimate relations with them irl. or maybe they are just more of voyeurs who enjoy the show but thinking that it's gross when done irl.
Yes, sure, but why/how/what about it do they enjoy? The sexual parts they want to see as voyeurs? But they find male parts and the idea of touching men sexually gross? I'd like to know what the thinking behind it is. It's curious.
I think there are multiple reason on why females watch BL;
It could be because the romance is (more often than not) really heart-wrenching
It could be because the overall plot is interesting
It could be because watching two handsome guys kissing is thrilling
It could be because it's something new for some people, anything new is usually attractive
It could also be because it's currently trending, like they fomo
It could also be because the mascot is cute (like polcasan)
But most of the time, it's just because the actor is handsome haha
And some said it's because sex always sells? Compared to straight romance dramas which are more conservative in general, at least half BL dramas are having such scene.
I can't quote the answer with the video, MDL says too long, but yeah, no, I have no interest in whatever that mascot stuff is 😂 soz
I see, sorry I forgot (I'm sleep-deprived). I think sexuality is really hard to define sometimes... I'm afraid I don't have the answers but if I might have to guess I think it's because they are so turned off by men (because of the many wrong things they do) that the idea of touching them sexually grosses them out. With BL, these male characters are written in the female-gaze (because BL is mostly written by women for women) so that automatically makes them an ideal, unlike most real life men nowadays who... yeah, will not elaborate on that further 😅
Yes, I know about the current 'toxic men' view happening in the world, but I can't see how that corresponds physically/sexually. Fantasizing sexually or finding sexual situations with fiction male characters who check all their 'female gaze' boxes, still includes fantasizing about touching a man or watching or thinking about the male body being sexually involved. So does it make sense that these women are het and are not attracted to or grossed out by the male physical body irl? That's what got me curious. I know it's not easy to make sense of it, maybe even for the people experiencing it.
