| Yaoi Addict By Charlotte I used to read yaoi fiction for hours upon hours. Now, I really don't have the time to indulge in the delicious smut anymore. I was curious as to why women adored yaoi fanfiction, so I did some research a long time ago when I was heavily involved in it... In yaoi, the real world doesn't exist. I would parallel it to the act of reading romance novels. The exceptions are the more raw stories featuring rape, painful break ups or men who, gasp, act like men. Most fiction show both main characters as blissfully in love or the ending is a sappy, happy end because they realize their untold feelings for each other. In anime yaoi, quality writing skills almost make you forget that in 'real life', Heero and Duo are not the perfect couple, Aya and Ken fight bad guys, not their passionate desires for each other and someone must have cut that scene where Kaworu jumps Shinji in the bath. After reading these fictions, you'd swear these anime were nothing more than giant sex romps. During my research and deep ponderings, my suspicions were confirmed as to why women love this stuff. Outside of receiving that same thrill you get when reading a romance novel, women feminize these men in their writing and make them mirror ourselves. When in a relationship or in love, women experience deep, complex feelings, while I think it's not as intense for most men. We cause these characters to even speak like women at times - "Does he really love me?" or "What did that look between us mean?" Women write what we know, which is everything female, and these male characters are huge reflections upon the female mind. I've actually read romantic fanfiction by guys. It was pretty sad. But, it proved that men do not get as emotionally involved in relationships the way we do for them. I forced myself to read a lemon. It sucked [har,har]. There was almost no emotion involved, just acts and bad dialogue. No wonder women created this anime fantasy world to escape into. I remember first discovering yaoi fanfiction - I was replused and horrified. But, my damn morbid curiousity got the better of me and I entered into that addictive world. For those who dislike yaoi, you probably accuse us of reading 'gay porn' though I've never thought of it like that. 'Homosexual literature' or 'chick lit' maybe. For those who love yaoi and wonder what all the fuss is about, I understand. Though, these same girls also joke about hopping around hell because of their indulgence so maybe they do have a conscience. Yaoi is this huge women's subculture that welcomes all who dare to join. I used to feel guilty reading the stuff, but now consider it an interesting experience. I also think I wrote some great fanfiction too. I think in most cases, women focus not so much on the sex, but the fact that two characters, whatever their gender, are in love and it's beautiful. The lines begin to blur and men's macho states are broken down to something that women can relate to. It's true that women feel comfortable around homosexual men in real life, and I think that comfort carries over to fanfiction. Also, if we hate a female character, it's always fun to throw two hot anime guys in bed together just to spite the show. The love of yaoi will always fascinate me, and I think girls will always gravitate toward it in some way or another. It is an escape to a sometimes perfect romantic world, as well as a display of the inner workings of a woman molded into male characters, resulting in situations and feelings we may never see in real life. In it's taboo presence, there holds a strange beauty. |