why do we like the boys-doing-boys :)

[mickeym]

Link via rivers_bend:

AfterElton asked their female readers what it is about m/m love that they like.

I'm only partway through reading the article, but it's very interesting so far (as is seeing what the survey questions were, and how people answered). rivers_bend also recommends reading the comments. I haven't made it that far yet, but she says they're well worth reading, and I trust her judgment on that :)

Comments

[linda3m.livejournal.com]

Why doesn't anyone ever ask men why they like girl-on-girl action?

[mickeym.livejournal.com]

Good question. Sadly, I don't have an answer. I would be willing to bet it would be something to the tune of, "we know the answer we'll get will contain a bunch of vulgar language and not much else", or "because we know men like to watch women in general; two women together is that much better". Something along those lines?

Or maybe it's because no one cares *g* I dunno, I think the whole phenom of fandon in general, and slash fandom in particular, is what drives all the questions and surveys and whatnot. Because it's gone from being completely unknown unless you knew the secret code/handshake, to being the focus of studies and papers, and it's in academia, and the news media, and all over the place. And it's not just because we like to look at the pretty; there's heavy, intense stories being written... and we (women) have more-or-less brought the f/f fanfiction into play, too. (I do not count Nifty.org at all, btw. *g*)

[kitanabychoice.livejournal.com]

I have nothing of value to add, but I agree with the article on the whole. It's a good one. :D

[kaiz.livejournal.com]

I've definitely seen the question asked in places like Playboy or on various late-night HBO porn specials and 99% of the time, the response is (unsurprisingly) of the: "One woman hot, two women hotter!" variety. I don't know if there has been any academic work (e.g. in media studies, gender studies, or mens studies) on the topic, though. Would be interesting to do a lit search sometime.

I suspect that why women (slashers) get asked the mirror question a lot is a function of 1) the fact that slashing isn't a passive activity, we're actually producing the consumables, and 2) having two--or more--hot menz in the frame seems incomprehensible given women are supposed to get off to (e.g. the whole soft-lit fabio/bodice-ripper/historical romance scene).

[kaiz.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link, twas an interesting read!

[rivers-bend.livejournal.com]

I ask men this question all the time. and I have never once gotten anything more articulate than a look as though I'm crazy and an "um, it's hot?" Even when it's totally clear that I'm asking in all seriousness, and not just to be "funny".

There are such proscribed ways in which it's acceptable for men to talk about sex (ribbing each other or bragging) that they don't learn to actually discuss it, in most cases. Women aren't "supposed" to think or talk about it at all, so we've created our own ways to do so.

That's my take on it, anyway. :) I think there should be places for men to discuss sexuality out of the "locker room" environment. I'd love it if that were happening. And maybe in generations younger than mine, it is. IDK.

[hunters-retreat.livejournal.com]

What I think is really awesome, is that Sam and Dean rate as third for favorite TV couple in an article about m/m pairings :P that just makes me happy for some reason. :P

Love that someone put the question out there for women. I think it's great to see what other people have to say about it all :P

[nowadventuring.livejournal.com]

Very fascinating article. I didn't feel like my own motivations were really covered, necessarily, but it's definitely one step closer than those sort of articles normally end up getting. And it's nice to feel asked rather than studied, so for once I felt comfortable leaving a comment explaining why it appeals to me personally, instead of just reading and moving on.

Thanks for linking! ♥

[shinycuba.livejournal.com]

This is interesting, thanks! I'm definitely saving this - I'm writing a paper this semester on how queer identity in fandom influences popular culture (SPN! Adam Lambert!), so this is of great use!

[linda3m.livejournal.com]

because we know men like to watch women in general; two women together is that much better

I wonder if it just scares the shit out of men to think we might want to see them together.

[linda3m.livejournal.com]

Good point! Slashing isn't passive. It's subversive. We control not only our own sexuality, but theirs as well. That's some pretty scary stuff there.

[linda3m.livejournal.com]

I'm just amazed that in our free-market-economy, no one has really looked at slash. Seen what women respond to and marketed it.

Look at the success of Brokeback Mountain.