I remember I first got into bl because of gacha life, I watched one gay alpha omegaverse skit and ever since then, I was addicted. I moved on from those to bl anime, and then finally to manga and Manwha. I think the reason I’m addicted and can’t stop reading is because of not just the plot, but for some reason I just can’t stand reading about a man and a woman together, like I’m fine if it’s in action story’s, but just romance I can’t read. I think it’s a personal problem more for me but I just can only read about same sex couples in romance. Think of it in the way that most men like straight story’s, or sexualize women more, women like gay story’s and sexualize men more. Idk how this works but yeah
okay but “most men like straight stories and sexualize women” is different from “most women like gay stories and sexualize men” bc why cant they just sexualize the men that are in straight stories then ??? cause i know that most straight men dont read gl so im just tryna understand why women read bl and hold it to such a high standard compared to straight stories
i highly recommend this manga that i heavily relate too that explains it well https://www.mangago.zone/read-manga/i_want_to_be_the_wall/ imo i kinda just like the fact that i dont really relate to it and dont (usually) have to stress about female characters being treated awfully and relating to it in that sense.. it's nice to just observe and i feel like sometimes bl gives me that feeling the best
1.Characters aren't sexualised, their bodies aren't sexualised.
2.No weird stereotypical gender dynamics in the society, they're both seen as 'equals' more or less. I don't mean the power dynamics within the relationships.
3. I read GL as well because I'm a lesbian but even in GL girls are sexualised or there's heavy sexual undertones sometimes even when they're done doing dumb shit I hate it.
4. Because the mc isn't seen as weak or villainesque just because they're pretty, there's no need to redeem themselves they just get to live life. There's so many variations in straight manhwa where the fl is wronged and she has to earn her place in the society again. Like look at the amount of villainess manhwa.
Like where the fl always has to be the most beautiful girl in the room and all the men are supposed to fall for her because she's beautiful. Whereas in BL I don't usually see it happen.
Other characters actually treat the mc as another normal human and not a possible love interest in BL.
i definitely think that the characters in bls are sexualized in ways that are unrealistic. for example, the giant penises, the ripped bodies, or when the bottom has a nice ass and a skinny waist. its portraying smth similar to a straight relationship where the man (the top) is “manly” and the woman (the bottom) is feminine. i also think there are gender stereotypes because in almost EVERY popular bl, one of them takes on the role of the “wife” or the “woman” theres also the thing with the plots being like “the rich top saves the poor bottom” which is like a damsel in distress trope. i dont think bl is much different from straight romance minus the fact that both characters are men instead of a man and a woman. it may be different for you because you dont see yourself in either male character but as a man i can clearly see the similarities i wont say anything about the woman always having to prove or redeem herself because your definitely right about that
i also just wanted to say that even if its not the story itself, bl characters are constantly sexualized by fans even when theres no smut in the story. theres plenty of people who will call a story boring if the characters arent fucking within the first few chaps. im not saying thats you !! its just something ive noticed, like a lot of ppl only read bl for the sex which is why im not understanding the appeal
you're right. I don't like the cinderella plot lines and skip the sex scenes so I didn't realise. They always do make the shous look extremely feminine and the gongs look like they're superman variants. that has to go.
BL definitely caters to the straight demographic but removes the element of relatability by making them both men. but every other aspect is the same, damn.
Although I feel like recently there has been a lot of buff shous so that's good.
yesss i love the ones like “define the relationship” or “our sunny days” because theyre both masculine but maybe thats the masc4masc in me talking i just like when they arent trying to copy the straight relationship stereotypes because like … THEY ARE GAY MEN !!! but ty for replying this was an interesting conversation
Idk but i think there's barely see any bl that has more equal dynamics lol sorry but it's somehow very rare.
Bl's are extremely stereotypical when it comes to differencing the bottom and the top.
Sexualization exits in bl as well and non-accurate sexual activities. Because of that only you can already tell who the target audience is lol which is also the same for bl.
Most bl don't even see one as human but only an essential ona-hole bait for grape lovers. It's sad. It's even worst in omega verse and guideverses.
I don't hold any special feelings to bl so some replies makes me confused as to why y'all actually think this way but I guess for you its simple you want to be treated as equal and the only thing that has been demonstrating it properly to you is bl. I think it's sweet
tbh as a man, ive been wondering what attracts women to bl ?? i feel like the fandoms of these bls/yaois should have more gay men considering the stories are about gay men but its so full of women that ppl in the fandoms just assume everyone is a woman now no hate btw just wondering what makes yall enjoy it sm