What are your thoughts on straight couples and female characters in BL?

[oandcksfb]

I read a lot of BL manga and listen to plenty of BL drama CDs. To be honest, I sometimes find female voices a bit distracting in drama CDs.
On the other hand, some female characters really add something special to the story. Whether it's giving the protagonists a reality check, offering a different perspective, or just being a lovable busybody, they can be a lot more important than they first seem.

So I'm curious—what are your thoughts on straight couples and female characters in BL?

 

[satory]

Every joseimuke and BL story needs to have a good female friend character I think writers generally use them to make MC realize their feelings or push MC in the romance direction, so they are needed as a plot device? But I understand how in CD voices may sound off, if it's more ASMR situation

 

[ninnikuryona]

as long as theyre not treated as devices for misogyny like many bl pieces of media love doing, im fine with it. however just like with otome and bl ships (which is already egregious by itself), id like it if hetero couples were nonexistent in bl. partially because of, once again, potential raging misogyny from both authors and fandoms, but also because i dont believe they belong to the genre
however i also love girls. cute girls are justice. so i would be a terrible liar if i said i dont want to see female friends in bl, because i do! but, once again, in moderation. and only as FRIENDS, not villains! ive had enough women portrayed as bitches/whores with killing stalking already:"3c

 

[oandcksfb]

Every joseimuke and BL story needs to have a good female friend character I think writers generally use them to make MC realize their feelings or push MC in the romance direction, so they are needed as a plot device? But I understand how in CD voices may sound off, if it's more ASMR situation

I think you make a good point. I like supportive female friend characters too!
As long as they're well-written, they can really enhance the story.
What I don't enjoy are characters who make fun of the leads for being gay or treat their relationship like a spectacle.
But honestly, that's a personality issue rather than a gender issue. I'd find those characters annoying no matter who they are.
I may just be remembering a few particularly nasty female characters from older works, and those examples ended up shaping my impression.

 

[satory]

I may just be remembering a few particularly nasty female characters from older works

Now I'm interested. Any particular examples? (asking for a friend to avoid these works XD)

 

[oandcksfb]

as long as theyre not treated as devices for misogyny like many bl pieces of media love doing, im fine with it. however just like with otome and bl ships (which is already egregious by itself), id like it if hetero couples were nonexistent in bl. partially because of, once again, potential raging misogyny from both authors and fandoms, but also because i dont believe they belong to the genre
however i also love girls. cute girls are justice. so i would be a terrible liar if i said i dont want to see female friends in bl, because i do! but, once again, in moderation. and only as FRIENDS, not villains! ive had enough women portrayed as bitches/whores with killing stalking already:"3c

I totally agree—cute girls are justice. If they're written as genuine friends, I want both male and female supporting characters around. Good friends can make a story so much better.
And yeah, BL couples appearing in otome games always feels a bit odd to me too.
There's that classic trope where a guy who normally chases after women and dates around ends up falling hard for the male lead and becomes completely loyal to him.
I'm actually a sucker for that kind of character development. How about you?

 

[ninnikuryona]

There's that classic trope where a guy who normally chases after women and dates around ends up falling hard for the male lead and becomes completely loyal to him.
I'm actually a sucker for that kind of character development. How about you?

a classic indeed! i feel like this too can be portrayed in various ways. if its a playboy/skirtchaser who then magically fell in love with a man, then sure, why not? bl is bl! however if he makes it his life's mission to constantly point out how much men are better than women in love/romance or how much better men are at sex compared to women, then its pure trash in my eyes. this is a boys' love story, right? why are you fantasizing about women?? this is why that one bl gacha game shut down after all.. (well it wasnt the only reason, but one of many!)

 

[oandcksfb]

Now I'm interested. Any particular examples? (asking for a friend to avoid these works XD)

Haha, that's the problem—I remember the tropes, but not the titles. If any other examples come back to me, I'll let you know.
One example that comes to mind is Naka Made Aishite. I don't hate the female character or anything, but I do find her a little annoying.

 

[oandcksfb]

a classic indeed! i feel like this too can be portrayed in various ways. if its a playboy/skirtchaser who then magically fell in love with a man, then sure, why not? bl is bl! however if he makes it his life's mission to constantly point out how much men are better than women in love/romance or how much better men are at sex compared to women, then its pure trash in my eyes. this is a boys' love story, right? why are you fantasizing about women?? this is why that one bl gacha game shut down after all.. (well it wasnt the only reason, but one of many!)

Yeah, you make a really good point. I think that's the key difference. I don't mind a playboy falling for a man, but I don't like it when the story starts putting women down just to justify the romance. Those are two completely different things.

 

[Beannie]

as long as theyre not treated as devices for misogyny like many bl pieces of media love doing, im fine with it. however just like with otome and bl ships (which is already egregious by itself), id like it if hetero couples were nonexistent in bl. partially because of, once again, potential raging misogyny from both authors and fandoms, but also because i dont believe they belong to the genre
however i also love girls. cute girls are justice. so i would be a terrible liar if i said i dont want to see female friends in bl, because i do! but, once again, in moderation. and only as FRIENDS, not villains! ive had enough women portrayed as bitches/whores with killing stalking already:"3c

Good point. I personally would like to see more well-written female characters in BL. However, as you have pointed out, I would rather have no females (or a straight couple) than have a terrible one. Furthermore, it is also pointless imo to have these just to check out the boxes.

On the other hand, I think they can make great supporting characters (females or hetero couples), if the author takes care to make a living, interesting world.

Edit: imo it's mostly our preferences, not only "one truth" exists.

 

[Hannis]

I reckon there should be more beautiful women in there. More often than not, there are at most two in BLVN. In Hashihime, there are basically only grannies. xDDD

 

[lambdadelta]

I reckon there should be more beautiful women in there. More often than not, there are at most two in BLVN. In Hashihime, there are basically only grannies. xDDD

sazan and hitotsurugi are very cute grannies... love them...