 |
The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
|
The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Seunghyun Yoo, DrPH, MPH, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Department of Community Health Sciences, Tulane University, 1440 Canal Street, SL-29, Suite 2324, New Orleans, LA 70112, 504-988-1367, syoo@tulane.edu
Yaoi, a comics-animation genre where man-man romantic and sexual relationships are graphically depicted, has been regarded as a female fantasy of beautiful men°¯s love lives with other men. This trend has changed, however, as Yaoi gains visibility in the genre. Increased exposure of gay and bisexual young men to Yaoi has generated increased interest in the genre by this group. The Internet serves as a medium for debates in cyberspace on the issues such as unreality and explicitness of Yaoi materials. This study is based on retrieval and content analysis of such online discussions about Yaoi. Unlike traditional perceptions, over 75 percent of the largest online Yaoi club consists of male members. Most view homosexuality and Yaoi as two separate matters. Perversity, sexual violence, lack of realism, weak plot, and reflection of traditional gender role in sexuality are commonly raised negative aspects of Yaoi. In the meantime, it is advocated for being fun, open and sensitive about gay relationships, and fulfilling romantic and sexual fantasies. The research was limited for most of online Yaoi communities require membership to access their websites. A formal research project is planned to examine further the gender and cultural differences identified in this study.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.