Yaoi, sometimes referred to as boys’ love, is a type of media that showcases homoerotic relationships between male characters. Originating from Japan, it is a distinct genre separated from gay manga by its demographic of creators and target audience. Rather than being created by gay men for gay men, yaoi is typically written and illustrated by women, for women. Although yaoi may work to destigmatize homosexuality, it often features ethically questionable content, supporting misogynistic practices and sexualizing rape. But more specifically, as these subjects are not exclusive to yaoi, yaoi sexualizes gay relationships.
Of course, one might ask what’s wrong with sexualizing a sexuality: isn’t sexuality about sex? Yes and no. Sexuality may pertain to sex, but it is not sexy by nature. Sexuality regards sexual attraction between individuals, not necessarily sexual attraction to sexual attraction itself. And sexual attraction to sexual attraction itself, or sexualizing a sexuality, can have significant repercussions.
In the world of pornography, it is no secret that lesbian relationships are fetishized. Content featuring women engaging in sexual acts with women is often shot with a straight male audience in mind. But in recent years, individuals have raised the point that this undermines the perceived validity of lesbianism. It illustrates to viewers that female-on-female sexual encounters exist for the male gaze, detracting from the realness of homosexuality, even outside of pornographic contexts. “Lesbian porn”, targeted at audiences other than lesbians, reduces lesbian relationships to objects of sexual fantasy rather than recognizing them as genuine, meaningful connections between individuals. By treating homosexuality as a source of entertainment, this type of porn reinforces a harmful idea that lesbianism exists for the pleasure of others rather than being a valid and legitimate sexual orientation in itself.
So why should yaoi be viewed differently? Yaoi similarly undermines the realness of male-on-male sexual encounters, showcasing scenes that misrepresent and sexualize them. And while yaoi viewers/readers, like many straight male viewers of lesbian porn, may say they recognize queer relationships as legitimate, the damage can be subconscious. Even with positive intentions, exposure to these scenes can cause audiences to absorb attitudes that demean queer relationships unknowingly.
By repeatedly viewing male homoerotic relationships through the lens that yaoi portrays them, our perceptions and attitudes can be influenced in several ways. We may become desensitized to the real-life experiences of LGBTQIA+ relationships, causing a lack of empathy, understanding, and respect toward these relationships. We are subject to harmful stereotyping, as the scenes we view build upon cliched, unrealistic portrayals of queer individuals. This, in turn, can cause us to perpetuate misconceptions and prevent us from recognizing the validity behind relationships and experiences that do not fit these stereotypes. We are taught to objectify individuals, viewing them as objects of desire. When we begin to view people by how they can gratify us, we stop viewing them as whole, multifaceted individuals—individuals who experience the attributes we sexualize, in contexts outside of us, for reasons not pertaining to us.
Moreover, yaoi can damage queer individuals by causing them to internalize this ideology. When an individual sees their identity as represented solely for the pleasure of others, can be difficult not to question the legitimacy of it. And through exposure to yaoi, queer men witness themes that value them purely for their sexuality, which various gay commentators have shared has caused feelings of inadequacy, shame, and confusion about their identities and relationships. Moreover, gay activist and yaoi critic Sato Masaki, adds that this damage is furthered by yaoi’s misrepresentation of queer relationships. Yaoi’s harmful tropes, such as stereotypes or abusive relationships, may not match queer viewers’ lived experiences, furthering any confusion or inadequacy resulting from yaoi. What’s worse is that yaoi can set a precedent with these tropes, causing queer viewers to internalize unhealthy power dynamics and abuse as normal.
While yaoi hentai may serve as a medium for exploring homoerotic relationships, it is crucial to recognize the potential harm it can cause. Yaoi’s sexualization of gay relationships, while not unique to this genre, can perpetuate harmful stereotypes, objectify individuals, and undermine the validity of LGBTQ+ relationships. As viewers and consumers, we must be mindful of the impact of our media choices on our perceptions and attitudes. Just like fetishized lesbian pornography undermines the realness of lesbianism, yaoi can also diminish the authenticity of male-male relationships. Furthermore, creators and consumers must challenge harmful tropes and stereotypes within yaoi and other media. Recognizing the damaging effects of misrepresentation and abusive themes, we can work towards creating content that celebrates diverse identities and promotes healthy relationships.
Written by Nicole Smith-Vaniz.